Much has been said about the life Ivan Garcia lived. Admittedly he made mistakes in his youth he was not proud of.
Prior to his release from prison I received a letter from Ivan in which I believe he shared his sincere intent. He was thinking of ways to make a difference with his life. In his letter he wrote, “I want to help kids avoid the same mistakes you and I have both made as youths.”
I responded to his letter and encouraged him to get involved in his local community. Upon demonstrating a proven track record, he would be well-accepted to serve as a model of a changed life to others. I was eagerly waiting to hear from him and was deeply saddened when I learned of his death.
We need to look beyond band-aid solutions to the gang issues and current rise in violence. It is not solely the duty of law enforcement to be looking out for the well-being of our children. It is also not helpful to show condescending attitudes toward kids who are looking for ways out.
As a community that prides itself in a culture of familia, sadly for many of our kids they are not finding it at home, so they turn to the streets for role models who make themselves readily available to them. Hurting teenagers, who are so absorbed in getting their unmet needs satisfied, willingly compromise personal morals and convictions to be accepted, to feel approval, to gain the attention and affirmation denied them by their families.
If we choose not to mold and shape our children, someone else will. I know this because I have been on both sides of the aisle. I was one of those kids. As a youth I had my share of bouts with truancy, drugs, and gang-activities, which led to over five years of juvenile incarceration.
During a two-year (1994-96) sentence at the New Mexico Boys School I encountered mentors who stepped up to the plate and demonstrated they cared not only in word, but in action. I have been given the privilege of working with youth for well over a decade and recently founded Hope for Youth Alliance a non-profit youth mentoring organization whose mission is to strengthen caring adults to have relational mentoring relationships with youth.
As pastor, mentor and coach I have found it a great joy to work with kids whose resiliency inspires hope that they can make better and wiser decisions. The rewards are theirs when they improve academic performance, establish healthier relationships and commit to be resourceful. We don’t have to look very far to make a difference in the life of a child searching for purpose and identity.
Daniel Arellano
Española