Youth summit encourages kids to make right choices

Local agencies working with youth said juvenile delinquency, some caused by drug use, is a serious problem in Imperial Valley.

Raymundo Gonzalez, SureHelpline Crisis Center, said, “A big chunk, maybe thirty percent of kids in high school have already tried or using drugs. As soon as a kid gets introduced to one of these drugs it can be turned to an addiction and, furthermore, they can be incarcerated or they can even die from it.”

Jessica P. Leon, I.C. Probation Dept. Supervisor, said, “Violence does exist. We have to say that it is serious, not compared to big cities, but nonetheless, we still have to address these concerns.”

They gathered 125 kids ages 12-18, some on probation, for the 9 th Annual Youth Summit on Saturday at McCabe School in El Centro. Gina Castaneda, recipient of the 2018 California State Deputy Probation Officer award from the Bay area. She’s worked with juveniles for the past 25 years. The story of how she became adversity was featured on a ESPN documentary recently.

Event Organizer Anjelica Matus said, “They were able to hear our keynote speaker, Gina Castaneda, speak to them about her story growing up, what struggles she went through and how she overcame those struggles to get to where she is today.”

“Hoping to reach our youth, both probation youth and our community youth, link them with services that are available in our community, to assist them with their success,” Leon said.

They want kids to focus on their futures.

“Some kids, like the ones on probation, they’ve made a mistake, but as gina mentioned, those records can be sealed and they still can become successful adults,” Matus said.

“Become successful, that they can overcome their challenges, that they can reach out to agencies in our community that can assist them with their challenges, their needs,” Leon added.

Career options.

Ramiro Villareal, Center for Employment Training, said encouraging kids to focus on career options is part of the answer.

“They can go to the streets, get into gangbanging or using drugs. We don’t want that. We want our kids to be focused on something other than that,” Villareal said.

Most importantly, they want kids to know they’re not alone nor forgotten.

“We are dedicated to, and committed to helping our youth improve their lives,” Leon said.

“It’s better to prevent it from happening than actually having to go through everything that drugs will put you through,” Gonzalez said.

Please watch our newscast for more information.