Leaders Meet With Latino Youth, Latinos En Acción Hires Organizer
(15 May 07) by Amy Arcand, CNO Staff

20 high school-aged Latino youth met at Corcoran Park to tell elected officials, police department leadership, and neighborhood staff about their dreams, barriers, and sense of belonging in the neighborhood.  When asked what their dreams were, many of the youth mentioned graduating from high school and going on to college.  Some of the barriers that they identified were lack of job opportunities, fear of gangs, police, and street violence, difficulty navigating the system (college preparation, high school, youth activities, etc.), needing to work to help their families, pressures from friends, being perceived as ‘gang-bangers’ by people and cops on the street, and poor grades prohibiting them from participation in sports.  When asked if they feel that this is their home and if they belong in this community, most of them said that it is not their home and that they do not feel like part of the community, even though most of them were born here. 
    
The adults in the room listened, despite it being difficult to hear.  It was clear that things need to change.  The youth suggested offering job and internship programs in places that have a future and help navigating the system so that they can succeed.  Together, we will work on solutions to address their needs.  Latinos En Acción, a program of the Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, is expected to be a cornerstone in this project.  A new Community Organizer was recently hired to work with Latino youth and families in the Powderhorn Park, Corcoran, and Longfellow communities.  She will begin work in July 2007.