National Coaches Day highlights need for Special Olympics coaches

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Special Olympics Southern California is using National Coaches Day to highlight the need for more people to support athletes across the region.

More than 1,100 coaches currently work with athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout Southern California.

The organization is working to grow that number to 1,500 coaches by the end of 2026.

Coaches help athletes develop skills and prepare for competition while also providing encouragement and consistency along the way.

The push comes as Special Olympics Southern California looks to expand its programs and make sure more athletes have the support they need.

Santa Barbara festival puts environmental issues on display

A Santa Barbara festival is using art and technology to help people better understand environmental change.

Brave New Work brings together artists and researchers through installations and interactive projects focused on climate and other environmental issues.

The work turns research and data into visual experiences people can see and explore.

Projects are designed to make complex topics easier to understand while encouraging people to think about how environmental changes are affecting communities.

The festival gives visitors a different way to connect with issues that can often feel distant or difficult to explain.