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How It All Started

Hoods in the Woods (The New Territories Project)

Started in 1991 as a grassroots organization to stop gang violence in the City of Santa Barbara and in its first year H.I.T.W. was a huge success with over a hundred gang-affiliated youth taking part.

Matt Sanchez       "Every young person is unique, they all have a special gift inside them to impart to others; we have to do our part to bring it out."  Matt Sanchez  (Courtesy of The California Wellness Foundation)              

  Espanol 

Formerly a gang leader, now a peacemaker, Matt Sanchez is a committed volunteer. Raised in Santa Barbara, he has left the area only twice: once to serve in the Marine Corps and once to serve time in prison.

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In 1991, Sanchez changed his life dramatically. As he watched his own children begin to emulate gang members, he realized how urgently he wanted to change his life, give his children a different outlook and affect the lives of other youth in the community. He began by speaking at local schools about violence prevention.

Because he understands how gangs work, Sanchez has been successful in convincing high-risk youth to consider alternatives to violence through the Mi Gente *(now AllforOne) program. He organizes field trips for youth at risk of violence, which he calls Hoods in the Woods. There, away from the warring neighborhoods that define them, young people interact and share activities with one another. Through his All 4 One program, Sanchez recruits and trains mentors, including his former gang affiliates. Young people, all voluntary participants, learn about Sanchez’ activities through court referrals and from friends.

Sanchez balances his violence prevention work with running a barbershop alongside his father. Private donors frequently take checks to the barbershop to help defray the costs of field trips and other activities. Mi Gente/All 4 One is housed at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara.* Biography also available in Spanish at (The California Wellness Foundation)

* Updated on 11/05/2002

All4One (AllforOne) formerly the Mi Gente Youth Program under the Pro-Youth Coalition

AllforOne is currently housed at the Friendship Center.