At the Don Bosco Community Center in Port Chester, N.Y., teens develop career skills at Café Alma, a culinary arts job-training program. Chef Rafael Palomino heads up the program, which targets youth 14 to 19 years old. Classes range from basic knife skills to a full culinary arts training. To ensure focused meaningful one-on-one attention, the 10-class curriculum is limited to 12 students per session.

As with many Salesian training programs, the work goes far beyond the classroom. Students truly experience the benefits of the skills they acquire through partnerships with local chefs within the community. Chefs who provide their expertise during the training are among those hiring graduates. After successful completion of the program, students also have increased self-sufficiency. The program also works to decrease community tension among differing populations while promoting the healthy development of youth, families, and immigrants.

Recently, a new computer lab was added to help disadvantaged youth learn necessary computer skills that can lead to future employment. Students without computer skills often have a tougher time competing in the job market and not just within technology fields.

Across the country, the Salesian Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco recently underwent an extensive $11 million expansion and renovation project to expand its services. The renovation added 7,500 square feet of space to the existing building and included a new martial arts and dance studio, arts and crafts/culinary room, learning center, black box theater, conference room, gym and game room. While the focus is on underprivileged youth, activities are open to all — building stronger relationships in the entire community and hope for the future.

Youth from Salesian-run St. Dominic Savio parish in Bellflower, Calif., have made it their mission to help feed as many homeless individuals as possible in Los Angeles County. Youth have also given the homeless a voice, learned their stories and provided compassion and hope during a challenging time.

Through their weekly volunteer work, youth learn important lessons and leadership skills. They work as a team and show compassion for those that are less fortunate. They are also taking action, helping to improve their own communities while they learn about the critical issues associated with homelessness and hunger.

More than 115,000 people suffer from homelessness in California, more than several other states combined, according to the 2015 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. In the same year, a partial assessment of the County of Los Angeles estimated more than 40,000 homeless within that region.

The work of Salesian youth is a powerful step in providing dignity to those who often live unnoticed in our society.