Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (CAN)

California | San Diego County  

Organization Description: Mid-City CAN is a community-based non-profit organization based in City Heights that serves San Diego County. Mid-City CAN’s mission is to build a safe and healthy community through collaboration, advocacy, and organizing. Mid-City accomplishes this through momentum teams, issue-based action groups, where Mid-City Can staff and community members come together to drive positive change across systems. Examples of momentum teams include Youth Justice, Transportation Justice, Youth Council, and Civic Health.  

Eligibility: Open to all youth ages 12-24 years old. 

Program Description: Mid-City CAN’s Youth Justice Momentum team is a community-based, multi-generational coalition with members from all areas in San Diego that centers youth advocacy and the leadership of system-impacted youth, their families, and credible messengers. Composed of members ranging from youth to elders, the team advances campaigns to end youth incarceration and promote youth-led policy solutions. A core part of the Youth Justice Momentum team is engaging young people in civic advocacy (which has demonstrated success in reducing recidivism), fostering critical awareness of systemic issues and inequities, and supporting youth in reimagining their identities as leaders and advocates within their communities—all of which promote positive youth development while keeping communities safe. 

Services Offered:  

• Civic Engagement 
• Youth Organizing  
• Youth Mentorship  

Contact and Referral Information: To refer a youth to Mid-City CAN, please contact Alejandro Martinez at amartinez@midcitycan.org.  

Last Updated June 2026