Members of the Close Up Washington DC Club at Santa Maria High School gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Salud Carbajal. (Courtesy photo)
Members of the Close Up Washington DC Club at Santa Maria High School gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol with Rep. Salud Carbajal. (Courtesy photo)

The Close Up Washington DC Club at Santa Maria High School recently received a $3,000 grant from the Fund for Santa Barbara’s Youth Making Change (YMC) program.

The grant will help support sending students to Washington, D.C., to participate in a week-long civics’ education program through the Close Up Foundation, as well as bringing back civic engagement to the school community through presentations and a spring voter registration drive.

The Fund for Santa Barbara is a non-traditional community foundation that supports organizations and groups working for progressive social change in Santa Barbara County.

“We understand that social conditions improve most dramatically when those who have been denied power and justice lead on their own behalf to confront, challenge, and change the conditions that have denied them access to justice and equity,’’ said Amy Hennings, club advisor and social science teacher at SMHS.

YMC is a teen-led grant-making program, started in 2008, that provides young people with the opportunity to engage directly in organized philanthropy (giving grants). Each YMC Board (one meets in Santa Maria and in Santa Barbara) gives up to $15,000 in grants to projects led by youth that impact young people in Santa Barbara County.