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National City shifts Miss National City pageant into youth empowerment program; Casa de Salud expands summer offerings
Summary
Recreation Supervisor Alana Delgado told the committee the department will refocus the Miss National City pageant into a broader youth empowerment program and expand Casa de Salud summer programming, including free activities for residents ages 8–17, supervised eSports, low-cost music classes and volunteer opportunities.
Alana Delgado, recreation supervisor, said the city will shift resources from the Miss National City pageant to a new youth empowerment program and expand Casa de Salud’s summer offerings. "This is a free program for National City residents ages 8 to 17," Delgado said, adding that the program provides a meal and supervised recreational and educational activities.
The department presented several initiatives: supervised eSports events and tournaments intended to provide structured gaming and competitive experience; a low-cost music program that has enrolled about 40 children and offers beginner classes without requiring instrument purchases; and a youth empowerment program for ages 13–17 that emphasizes career awareness, including technical and trade options. Delgado said five youth have enrolled in the empowerment track so far and current Miss National City court members will be honored at a July 5 closing ceremony.
Delgado described additional efforts to build community ties and volunteerism. She highlighted a recent park cleanup at Paradise Big Park, where volunteers picked up two large bags of trash, and said the department partners with police and fire for outreach events and with local businesses for small incentives. "We'd also host tournaments, so that they get some experience in actually competing on stage," she said of the eSports events.
Committee members asked about outreach and program partnerships. A resident and member of local labor groups suggested including trade-school pathways in programming; Delgado said technical-school awareness and career-focused workshops are part of the empowerment curriculum. Committee members also discussed involving the soon-to-open senior center in intergenerational activities.
The department emphasized the program’s low-cost model for families, noting the music track charges roughly $30 for a multi-class session while providing instruments and culminating in a family performance. Staff said they will seek sponsorships to expand incentives and said Casa de Salud will receive exterior paint work this weekend as part of facility upkeep.
Next steps: staff will continue recruitment and partnership outreach and will present program updates to the committee at future meetings; the current Miss National City court’s closing ceremony is scheduled for July 5.
