Program urges youth to become advocates for social change

Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, Staff Writer Posted: 10/25/2009 07:02:32 AM PDT 

 Young Visionaries  a program that gives kids and parents more individualized attention in areas like anger and stress management and building potential that has had an impact on youth in the community," she said. "So we felt how can we get youth to be empowered to make changes in their own community."

Around 30 teens and their parents showed up at Friday night's orientation at the Young Visionaries office.

Parent Pete Hernandez, who was there with his son Sammy Hernandez, 12, said he came because it sounded like a good project for teens.

"I used to be involved with gangs and drugs myself, when I was around his age," he said. "So I want to see my son take the right path."

Teens who attended the orientation and enrolled in the project will attend an annual youth violence prevention/intervention leaders training retreat, help establish a youth and parent violence prevention council and attend community organizing and advocacy training with Congregrations Organized for Prophet Engagement, C.O.P.E.

In addition, they will attend creative writing workshops through The Let's Write Out Loud Program and develop a Pistols 2 Pencils online newsletter and a public television talk show, as well as participate in showcases, radio shows and concerts.

"I want my son to get involved in writing and other activities to utilize his hands in a better way," said Delita Woods, who attended with her son Chris Campbell, 15. "I really hope it is a life changing experience for him."

deborah.pfeiffer@inlandnewspapers.com

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