News

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Dos Pueblos students find food for thought in visit to Homeboy Industries and UCLA

Last Tuesday, 24 students from Dos Pueblos High School visited Homeboy Industries and UCLA. The trip was planned by youth outreach worker Ismael Huerta and supervised by Dos Pueblos teacher Rick Newhouse. According to Rick, “This was definitely money well spent. Students listened to three ex-gang members who shared their story. I have never seen students so intently focused on the dismal stories. What made the trip especially valuable was that it showed the alternative lifestyle to being in a gang, that is available to all.”

The theme throughout the day was that students at risk have a voice if they choose it and have the means to escape violence and poverty to embrace a positive way of living.

Graduate students at UCLA shared how they moved from gang involvement to working for the betterment of communities. Rick continued, “Even after many mistakes, there is a way to be redeemed. Ismael Huerta deserves thanks for his dedication to students that are easily discarded as failures. The district deserves credit for allowing Ismael to work with our students. On Wednesday he took students from Santa Barbara High School. Ismael also has a weekly class at Dos Pueblos for students that need encouragement to break away from destructive ways and embrace learning and setting goals that lead to a life of success.”