José Angel Santana

In 1984, as an acclaimed young actor, José Angel Santana recognized pervasive media violence's destructive influence on young people's lives. Rather than continue making such programs, in 1987 he set out to work full-time to help young people. Over his 35 years of working with teenagers and young adults, first as Drama Director of Jane Fonda's Laurel Springs Performing Arts Ranch, then as co-founder and Drama Director of Santa Barbara's award-winning City At Peace Youth Program, Dr. Santana combined professional actor training with the openhearted methods of conflict resolution/mediation to create a unique approach to reaching and teaching "empathy" to young people, who otherwise might have fallen through society's cracks. For his work with City At Peace, he was recognized as a Santa Barbara "Local Hero" in 1999. Today, José Angel Santana, Ph.D. is an award-winning teacher, mentor, actor, director, photographer, and innovator in the field of interpersonal communications. He is the c