Youth leaders to present study on violence
Youth organizers with Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) will join religious and civic leaders in a prayer and a public meeting to speak out about violence in local neighborhoods and schools. The youths, who attend city schools, will also unveil results of a three year study on violence in local schools.
WHAT: Prayer vigil and public meeting
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 13
WHERE: Prayer at 1st Presbyterian Church, 1900 N. D St. Participants will walk en masse to San Bernardino High School where study results will be presented from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
WHY: Youth leadership groups have formed in local churches in response to local violence. The movement took hold in 2006.
For information call (909)383-1134 or visit www.icucpico.org
Click below for an interesting story about how the young leaders Hectored the Governor's representative Thursday with sharp, smart questions.
By Robert Rogers
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- The man with the imposing title smiled and cajoled, laughed and squirmed, doing all he could to explain his side and win approval.
The teens surrounding him occasionally allowed smiles, but mostly inched forward in their chairs, quickening the pace of tough, probing questions.
"Are you guys looking at cutting the huge prison budget?" asked Michael Segura, 16.
"Don't you think cuts to education will just increase drop-outs, increase violence and prisons?" said Alyssa Alfaro, 17.
Larry Grable, Inland Empire field director for Arnold Schwarzenegger, answered each query, sometimes with better results than others, because his interrogators wouldn't settle for less.
"The Democrats, they say raise taxes," Grable said, explaining why the state's budget crunch could hit schools hard. "But the governor is passionate about not raising taxes."
Grable came to meet a dozen youth leaders in a multipurpose room at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary Church May 8, to hear their concerns and demands.
The youths, local students from Inland Congregations United for Change, have been active locally since 2006 and plan to unveil this week what they say will be an extensive survey measuring how violence impacts children in San Bernardino Unified School District.
Along with mentor and church leader Tom Dolan, the students took a break from studies to learn about, and wield, local political power.
By the end of the 30 minute meeting, concrete results were nil, but Grable promised to present the governor with a brief written report of the meeting and to meet with the youths again.
"I really applaud you guys for what you are doing," Grable said.
"With all due respect, we're doing this not to be applauded, but to be heard," said Ben Reynoso, 15.