We are six local high school students who became friends in elementary school and who have been a part of Santa Barbara’s community since. Growing up in Santa Barbara, we have always been deeply connected to the thriving and welcoming community that surrounds us. Our shared love for our encouraging hometown community inspired us to create The Riviera Mentorship Project, a program that focuses on high schoolers mentoring younger middle schoolers. Our longstanding friendship and shared experiences growing up in SB have given us a unique perspective on the challenges that young people are experiencing. Through this program, we hope to create a supportive and empowering environment for young people to grow and thrive, just like we did.