Gilroy – A free educational series for Gilroy residents
concludes Tuesday night, with a panel that asks what youth can do
for the community
– and what the community can do for youth.
Gilroy – A free educational series for Gilroy residents concludes Tuesday night, with a panel that asks what youth can do for the community – and what the community can do for youth.
“Youth are an untapped resource,” said Daniel J. Chavez, a neighborhood developer for South County Housing, “and if they aren’t engaged with positive activities, they can swing the other way and get involved in gangs, drugs and violence.”
The panel features numerous youth and community leaders discussing activities available to Gilroy youth, from neighborhood cleanups to religious youth groups. Job opportunities and other programs will be featured at a resource table, supplied by the Mexican American Community Services Agency, the city’s Housing and Community Development department, and South County Housing.
“So much of our world is geared toward adults,” said Community Service officer Rachel Muñoz, who has helped coordinate the series. “This panel will provide information about what’s out there to keep kids busy and connected to their community.”
One of the evening’s speakers is Rosemary Ledon, who has mobilized youth to clean up IOOF Avenue apartments in exchange for tickets to a local swimming program, said Chavez; another is Carly Kennedy, a participant in the city’s Youth Commission. Pastor Mark Turner will discuss youth opportunities at South Valley Community Church, David Montes of MACSA will talk up teen job opportunities, and Joel Gray, a Gilroy teen, will talk about his neighborhood group, the Little Rascals, which successfully pulled off Cinco de Mayo and Fourth of July events last year. Chavez himself will discuss youth opportunities available through South County Housing, which provides after-school activities in many of its apartment complexes, including Girl Scouts, homework help, literacy programs, cooking classes and youth movie nights.
The event is the final installment of this year’s academy. Previous sessions discussed domestic violence and city development. Attendees who visit all three sessions will be awarded certificates Tuesday night by Mayor Al Pinheiro.
