0

Centinela Youth Services

ChildrenLife SkillsSocial Justice & Equality
110 South La Brea Ave Suite #450, Inglewood, CA 90301
Phone (310) 970 - 7702
I'm Interested Visit Website Volunteer Page
Our mission

Centinela Youth Services strengthens families and communities and helps build successful students and productive adults, leveraging the principles of restorative justice to empower peaceful conflict resolution. We are committed to ending the institutionalized practices in schools and justice systems that are primarily responsible for maintaining the school-to-prison pipeline, and disproportionately impact youth of color.
Opportunities

Surrogate Victim Advocate

Serving as a Surrogate Victim Advocate is a great way to become familiar with the mediation process and prepare yourself for the training to become a Mediator. As a Surrogate Victim Advocate, you hold the critical role of standing in place of an “actual” victim, (also referred to as the “identified victim”) in a mediation process, when the identified victim is not able to participate. Duties include: representing the perspective of the actual victim (whether an individual or entity) and the overall community; effectively communicate the effects of the harm done and advocating for the victim’s needs and experience recommending constructive types of restitution. You must commit to at least two mediations per month.
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Translator/Interpreter

As a Volunteer Translator/Interpreter, you hold an invaluable role in the execution of our services, as many of our mediations simply wouldn’t be possible without a Translator/Interpreter present. The Translator/Interpreter accurately facilitates communications between two parties (in a restorative justice mediation) who speak two different languages. Duties include but are not limited to: detailed interpretation of verbal communication between parties; verbal translation of written word and documents; and accurately and fairly portraying emotion and feeling from one party to another. Translators must be fluent in English and another language (strong need for Spanish).
  • Occasional, Weekly, Monthly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Skilled
  • Weekdays, Weekends

Become a Certified Mediator

This is our most demanding, yet incredibly rewarding volunteer opportunity.
CYS’ 40-hour Volunteer Mediation Training consists of basic mediation fundamentals with an emphasis on restorative justice principles. It will prepare you to become a highly-skilled volunteer community mediator in our Victim Offender Restitution Program (VORS). Subsequent training is available to become a mediator in our Family Mediation Program (FARS)
  • Weekly, Monthly
  • 55+, Adults
  • Individuals
  • Indoor
  • Formal
  • Weekdays, Weekends
About us

Centinela Youth Services (CYS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization, was founded in the Centinela Valley in 1975 to provide youth counseling; physical and mental health, academic, and developmental intervention; and juvenile crime prevention services. In the mid-90s, due to the strong outcomes achieved by the youth served, CYS services were expanded into many of Los Angeles County’s high-needs communities. CYS Restorative Justice Centers (RJCs) serve youth and families through a trauma-informed lens. Each year, as many as 2,500 youth participate in the opportunities and second chances CYS services provide. CYS provides its unique community-based services for referred youth and families from cities across much of Los Angeles County.