Seaside hires new youth violence prevention coordinator

Monday Seaside leaders announced it has hired a new Youth Violence Prevention Coordinator.

Theresa Zamora comes to Seaside with a background as a grant writer, business and workforce consultant and more recently, as a Community Behavioral Health Consultant for Stanislaus County.

Zamora has a Bachelor’s degree from National University (La Jolla), a Masters from CSU, Stanislaus and is currently working towards her Doctorate in Public Health from Walden University in Missouri.

Zamora is also fluent in Spanish.

During the city council’s June session council members authorized the Violence Prevention Coordinator position as part of the funding for the Violence Prevention Plan.

The Plan will identify existing community resources and will identify “gaps” in helping kids in the community.

The Violence Prevention Plan is expected to provide a road map of programs and services to help children succeed.

Zamora will be supervised by the city manager, and will work closely with other city staff members.

Her basic job responsibility will be to work with the Blue Ribbon Committee and the city’s consultant to develop and then to carry out the adopted Violence Prevention Plan.

City leaders say “the complexity of our youth gang problem defies an easy solution or single strategy. The most effective program will include a combination of prevention, intervention and suppression strategies.”

The City of Seaside is committed to addressing these issues and thereby create a better future for both our youth and our community.

Zamora starts the new position Monday.