Highlighting America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People
Brentwood, California
By Christopher Epps
The suburban City of Brentwood, with a population of just over 40,000, is unique because it embraces the concept of open space, parks, and recreation opportunities. These opportunities enhance the daily lives and general well-being of its residents and also increase the vitality of the community by making the city more attractive to businesses and industry.
The city is growing by leaps and bounds and is implementing programs to better its youth. With such explosive growth, any community would be challenged by the increasing diversity and rising crime rates, but not Brentwood. Among other initiatives, the community has focused its energies on providing programs for disadvantaged youth and developing a blueprint for its children’s future. The city’s Youth Master Plan, developed in 2002 is still being implemented today. The plan is divided into four phases and has been instrumental in fostering relationships among youth, police, city government and schools.
Other programs that make this a great place to grow up include:
Independence High School: An alternative for completing high school education that allows independent study to students who have difficulty in traditional high school environments. Children have one-on-one instruction with teachers and are allowed to complete courses at their own pace.
Reducing Adolescent Violence Education (R.A.V.E.) Program: This initiative expands the knowledge of middle school-aged children to better deal with hostile situations at school and home. As a result, violent acts at middle schools have been reduced by 36%.
Small Learning Communities: Created by the city’s high schools, allows students to intern in various job fields as part of their high school education. A great benefit of the program is it provides the students with transferable college credit.
Youth Commission: Comprises 10 students, three adult advisors, a school resource officer from the police department and a city staff liaison. The group meets monthly, as an official city commission, to help youth better understand relationships between business and government, to create activities and provide a forum for youth to express their concerns and views.
The City of Brentwood works hard to expose its children and youth to a variety of activities. Last year, the city brought in 40 tons of man-made snow for the Winter Wonderland Experience, allowing children and adults to enjoy winter and its season-specific activities in California.