A teenager on the South Coast is running her own nonprofit organization that aims to empower young people.
Seventeen-year-old Gabriela Goldberg is a senior at San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, and she’s also the Co-Founder and Co-President of Santa Barbara Speaks.
“We are dedicated to giving teenagers in Santa Barbara a place to have a voice. And, we do that through producing different community-wide events that are all entirely youth-run and youth-oriented,” she said.
Teenagers can share their ideas and experiences through open mic nights, conferences and other free events.
Goldberg said ensuring that young people have a voice is especially important to her because she was selectively mute for five years as a child.
"Regardless of who you are or what you do, your voice is important," she said.
The next event is a poetry slam accompanied by an art gallery and live music on April 8th at the Breakfast Culture Club in Downtown Santa Barbara.