Q&A with Billi Jo Starr of Freedom 4 Youth

Krista Harris
Bili Jo Starr portrait.
Freedom 4 Youth Executive Director Billi Jo Starr. Photo courtesy of Freedom for Youth.

Freedom 4 Youth was co-founded in 2008 by Billi Jo Starr, PhD, and the youth at Los Prietos Boys Camp, a now-closed youth detention facility in Santa Barbara. Originally, the organization was a Toastmaster Charter, the first of its kind for youth in the juvenile justice system. In 2011 it evolved into a nonprofit organization and went on to create Freedom 4 Youth Advocates, a UCSB mentorship organization that supports youth in the justice system. It opened a physical location in 2019 and has since grown exponentially, serving over 700 individuals in 2023, nearly all of whom have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system. Freedom 4 Youth Advocates alumni have gone on to receive master’s degrees in social work, enter teacher education programs and law schools, or join the workforce as counselors, case managers and law enforcement officers.

After hearing that they had a culinary program, I reached out to Executive Director Billi Jo Starr to hear more about the work they are doing.

Culinary program students and their mentors create delicious, nutritious and gorgeous cuisine for any catering event, large or small.
Culinary program students and their mentors create delicious, nutritious and gorgeous cuisine for any catering event, large or small. Photo: Leandra Harris.

How has Freedom 4 Youth evolved over the years?

Freedom 4 Youth started with a focus on mentorship and support for youth in local detention facilities, offering traumaresponsive care and guidance. Over the years, we’ve evolved into a comprehensive network of services. Some of the original boys, who started with me when they were around 13 and 14 and are now 29 and 30, are still involved as part of our strategic advisory group, the Lived Experience Executive Division. They guide the organization, and they are the ones who decided we needed to do a culinary arts program. They said we should have a catering company, which could then provide career pathways for youth. Also, our arts and advocacy initiatives have led to the creation of a magazine highlighting the positive impact of legislation on our youth. So, our growth has been driven by the needs of the youth we serve, expanding our programs to include mental health services, after-school support and community partnerships.

Freedom 4 Youth Culinary Program participants share a moment of laughter with their mentors at the SBCC Schott Center kitchen.
Freedom 4 Youth Culinary Program participants share a moment of laughter with their mentors at the SBCC Schott Center kitchen. Photo: Sammy Chavoya.

What partnerships have been particularly helpful to your work?

Our partnership with Santa Barbara City College allows us to utilize their commercial kitchen to run our culinary program. This program not only offers valuable job training but also helps our youth develop essential life skills. Our partnership with Good Samaritan and DignityMoves is another cornerstone of our work, where we provide around 200 meals and support services to residents in their housing shelters. These collaborations provide the resources needed to expand our catering and meal delivery services, and we are planning to launch a mobile kitchen food truck in spring 2025.

Magazine cover hand illustration by David Flores. In photo right to left: Frank Silva, Sammy Chavoya and Jarad Nava in front of the state capitol.
In photo right to left: Frank Silva, Sammy Chavoya and Jarad Nava in front of the state capitol.

We’ll definitely check back in with you next year to hear more about that! In the meantime, what are some ways that our local community can support Freedom 4 Youth?

The most significant way our local community can support Freedom 4 Youth is by changing the way we view children who have been incarcerated. These young people are not lost causes; they are bright, resilient individuals who have faced real struggles and systemic barriers. They are not “bad.” They are deserving of opportunities, connections and resources that allow them—and our community—to flourish. Investing in our children is one of the most powerful investments a community can make because they are our future. By investing in Freedom 4 Youth, you are investing in the youth in our community who have limited access to resources and opportunities. We are shaping the future of our entire community to be one filled with hope and love. So, we ask: What do you want the future of our community to look like? And will you join us in centering youth’s experiences to build that community?

Culinary program student catering an event at the Lobero Theatre, smiling over his delicious tray of hors d’oeuvres.
Culinary program student catering an event at the Lobero Theatre, smiling over his delicious tray of hors d’oeuvres. Photo: Leandra Harris.

So, supporting young people in our community can make a difference for all of us?

Yes, Freedom 4 Youth was created to provide a sense of family because we all want something to belong to. When we’re in true support of one another, it changes
the way we see each other, fostering genuine connection and paving the way for real systemic change. That’s why we’ve continued this work together for so long—because it’s working. Lives are transforming, communities are evolving, and through our relationships we’re creating a better, more connected, loving world.

Posted In: Advocacy, Features, Food & Drink

Krista Harris is a fifth-generation Californian, raised in San Diego and relocated to Santa Barbara in 1983. She started Edible Santa Barbara with her husband, Steve Brown, in 2008. She is currently assisting the new owners of the magazine and serving as associate publisher.

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