RIVERSIDE, CA – The Johnny Martin Sotelo Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an open house.  The open house, for all ages, will feature workshop demos, informational partnership booths, resources and light refreshments. The event will be held on Thursday, November 16 from 4 – 7 p.m. at Bobby Bonds Park (2060 University Ave.)

The YOC is a space dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of Riverside youth through the promotion of social and personal development. The center focuses on providing youth between the ages of 14 – 22 with the skills necessary to succeed in their communities. The center commits itself to providing essential tools that give youth a possibility to gain employment, complete a high school degree, and enroll in college.

About Riverside

As the City of Arts & Innovation, Riverside, California is rich in history and culture, and is setting the pace in innovative practices for government, business and education. With a population of just over 300,000, Riverside is the largest city in the Inland Southern California region, the 12th largest city in California, and the 6th largest in Southern California. Riverside is home to four internationally recognized universities and colleges that support a growing college student population of nearly 50,000. Businesses and residents in Riverside benefit from city-owned electrical and water systems, high-speed fiber optic telecommunications, an easily-accessed freeway system, BNSF and UP rail access, and a large corporate jet and general aviation airport.

With standards of excellence in technology, workforce development, arts, innovation, education and social capital the City has been named America’s #2 Hot Spot for Tech (Forbes, 2013); #6 Happiest Place for Young Professionals (Forbes, 2013); #3 ‘Can Do’ Capital (Newsweek, 2011); and the 2012 Intelligent Community of the Year by the Intelligent Community Forum.