A ranch that raises teenagers

Nice News - In the year 2000, now-retired Superior Court Judge John Phillips set out to help disadvantaged youth in Monterey County in a tangible way. After spending over three decades working in the criminal justice system, first as a district attorney and later a judge, he’d encountered countless children who’d had brushes with the law — and seemingly felt no hope for the future. That’s why he created Rancho Cielo: a comprehensive learning and social services center for underserved young people. Located on the eastern end of Salinas, California, the nonprofit ranch opened in 2004 as a place “where first-time youth offenders who want a different path can finish their high school diploma and learn job readiness skills,” the school’s website explains. Since then, the program has expanded: What was early on just a “last resort” for teens having difficulties in traditional high school now includes “at-promise” students who want to learn vocational skills (such as welding and construction) and prefer a different route, one that’s more hands-on, per USA Today. The campus also offers a culinary academy, mental health counseling, and social services for the 220 students (ages 16-24) who attend yearly. And the statistics speak for themselves: 80% of Rancho Cielo youths do not re-offend within one year. Take a tour of the ranch