Community Impact Projects

Moments That Matter was a heartfelt Community Impact Project created by the CNUW Youth Board to bring hope, laughter, and light to the residents of Peppermint Ridge, a local nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Known affectionately as the “Ridgers,” residents welcomed our youth leaders for a day filled with games, karaoke, painting, puzzles, and genuine connection. The Youth Board’s goal was simple and impactful, to remind each resident that they are seen, valued, and celebrated. The project concluded with the creation of a personalized Yearbook, capturing joyful memories and the bonds formed between Youth Board members and the Ridgers. Through Moments That Matter, our students learned that small acts of kindness can make a lasting difference, enriching not only the lives of others, but also their own.

Loggin’ to Your Noggin, a Youth Board Community Impact Project focused on supporting emotional wellness among middle school students across CNUSD. Designed and led by the CNUW Youth Board, this project encouraged younger students to understand, express, and manage their emotions in healthy ways. Through hands-on activities such as painting, planting, and reflection exercises, Youth Board members created safe and welcoming spaces for middle schoolers to engage, connect, and learn about mental health in an approachable way.

Having recently been middle school students themselves, the Youth Board recognized a gap between available school resources and how students actually experience them. Loggin’ to Your Noggin bridges that gap by meeting students where they are (during lunchtime) and guiding them toward practical coping tools, self-reflection, and meaningful peer connections. By focusing on community, introspection, and emotional outlets, the Youth Board helped foster resilience, empathy, and awareness; one lunchtime conversation at a time!

Prep 4 High School is the CNUW Youth Board’s 23/24 Community Impact Project, designed to support 8th grade students and their parents as they prepare for the transition into high school. Inspired by the Youth Board’s own experiences and reflections on what they wished they had known before starting high school, this event focuses on equipping families, especially those from low-income or disadvantaged backgrounds, with the tools and confidence to thrive.

Through interactive workshops and breakout sessions, students will gain practical strategies for academic success, social-emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, and future career planning. At the same time, parents will participate in professional-led workshops (offered in both English and Spanish) that provide insight, resources, and actionable ways to support their student’s journey. The event begins with a joint opening session for families, followed by separate tracks tailored to each student’s high school of choice, ensuring the information is relevant, accessible, and empowering.