Project ACE honorees share struggles with Hueso
Two former foster youth who volunteer with Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program’s Project ACE were honored by California State Senator Ben Hueso (D-40th) for outstanding community engagement, Friday.
The presentation took place at Social Service’s Suite on South Fourth Street. Project ACE (Accessing Careers through Education) offers life skills opportunities for former foster youth to mentor current foster youth, explained Luis Torres, Project ACE program manager. “The goal is to upgrade services for foster youth in Imperial County,” he said.
Project ACE volunteer Betsey Pino, one of those recognized, is now a behavioral science major at Imperial Valley College and is looking to transfer to Northern Arizona University for a behavioral science degree.
Pino launched the Foster Youth Council a year ago to meet with different agencies to discuss obstacles encountered by foster youth. She also works with Torres on the Homeless Youth Task Force as part of Imperial County’s Continuum of Care project. “I really feel I can make a difference since I’ve been there and know what struggles foster youth go through,” she said.
Also honored by Hueso was Lucerito Tirado, a 2017 graduate of San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus with a criminal justice degree and returning there for a masters of social work program this fall. Project ACE not only improved her public speaking skills but mentors like Torres and Estella Diaz, case manager are a big part of her success, she confided.
“I feel since I was with Project ACE when I was 13 they are an essential part of my life, and I want to work with other youth who need guidance and give back to the community.”
Dwain Dees, deputy director of Imperial County Department of Children’s Services, also spoke. Dees noted there are over 300 foster youth in the county. One priority is to help foster youth become socially and successfully independent. They achieve this by coaching them to be college and career ready - only 5 percent of foster youth get college degrees. An especially disturbing trend; numerous foster youth experience homelessness sometime during childhood, he noted.
Rosyo Ramirez, Imperial County Department of Social Services program manager, presented a video on Camp Hope. This is a camp that reaches out to domestic violence victims. It started in 2003 by then San Diego City Attorney Casey Gwinn.
“The goal is to break the cycle of generational violence,” said Ramirez. “This year we’ll send 30 kids to camp with activities in science, tech and art. We want to create a pathway for youth to enter college.”
Hueso remarked he was very proud of Betsy and Lucerito and hoped they attained their aspirations. He also noted there is an unleveled playing field. One measure Hueso took was sponsor SB 1216 that passed two years ago. It provides business tax credits for employers who hire high risk youth.
Yet Hueso issued a caveat, that unless people especially Latinos, substantially increase their rate of voting they risk missing opportunities to advance. He wants to change the negative mindset about the importance of voting.
“If you don’t vote you won’t get a seat at the table,” said Hueso. “Learn to be a critical thinker. Learn to separate the massive amount of information in the media to decide how you want to vote. We can change the course of the world if you vote.”