When we interviewed Dennisse Garcia, we asked about her favorite volunteer memory. Her answer? "Being able to make a difference in a teenager’s life."
Through mentoring, Dennisse helped a young teenage girl, who was a chronic marijuana user, to stop consuming marijuana and work towards positive goals. Dennisse helped this teen graduate from the Lifeline CAT program, Community Assessment Team.
Through her volunteer service with Lifeline’s Community Assessment Team (CAT), Dennisse is making a difference. CAT works with kids ages 5 to 18 who need positive role models to stay away from criminal activity or are on probation and working to get back on track. Dennisse mentors youth, helps case managers with filing, and schedules intake appointments for her supervisor Cheryl Macias.
As a volunteer , Dennisse is an important part of the Lifeline team. She encourages first time volunteers to ask questions, especially since she was afraid to ask questions when she first started volunteering. According to Dennisse, North County Lifeline’s helpful, positive environment welcomes and supports volunteers. The constructive criticism that staff provide allows volunteers and interns to grow from their experiences.
Dennisse is a human service major at the University of Phoenix and has been volunteering at North County Lifeline for five years. She decided to become a volunteer because she wanted more hands-on experience in human services. She simply walked into Lifeline’s Vista office and asked the receptionist whether or not Lifeline offered volunteer positions. She started volunteering for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program as a tax admin assistant. Since then, she has volunteered for the past three years in North County Lifeline’s youth programs.
Dennisse, *thank you* for all you do to help kids. You change lives and inspire us all. We are grateful for your service.
Story submitted by Mirta Ortiz, AmeriCorps VIP Fellow
On March 19, more than 115 community members attended North County Lifeline’s Gang forum, held in partnership with VGRIP (Vista Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention) and Project CLAIM (Creating Leadership & Inspiring Mentors).
Deputy Ortiz, with the Sheriff’s department, presented some sobering statistics regarding the number of identified gangs as well as documented gang members in our North San Diego County cities. Becoming a ‘documented gang member’ by law enforcement can be as simple as being seen associating with other documented gang members.
- Oceanside: 580 documented gang members in 13 gangs
- Vista: 400 documented gang members in one gang
- Escondido: 1,200 documented gang members in 2 gangs
Deputy Ortiz listed identifiers associated with gang membership that parents should be aware of to help them understand what their children are encountering in school and on the street.
Xuan Santos, PhD., from CSUSM gave his testimonial of being raised in Los Angeles’ gangland. It was a gripping story of overcoming obstacles within the neighborhood and within his family to escape the culture of gangs. He stressed the importance of the types of programs Lifeline offers, which provide positive role models and mentors to build confidence in our children.
Dr. Santos highlighted the power of language. What if society changed its approach of helping “kids at risk” to helping “kids with promise”? In his life’s experience, it was a mentor believing in him and telling him he could be someone that prompted him to avoid gangs, graduate high school, get accepted to Yale, attend college and ultimately earn his Pd.D. from UC Santa Barbara.
Gustavo Licona, Lead Outreach and Gang Prevention Specialist with North County Lifeline, described the programs available to the community to assist with mentoring and developing self-reliance in our youths.
Project CLAIM speakers touched everyone with their stories of redemption. Miguel Yescas, Juan Flores and Shanell Rodriguez spoke about gang life, prison time, drug addiction, rape, recovery and that one moment or person who mentored them, inspired them and motivated them to change.
Additional community forums will be held this year on topics important to the needs of the community. For input on topics, please contact Gustavo Licona at (760) 726-4900 ext. 6345.
Story Submitted by:
Cindy Ballard-Guminski
Executive Assistant/Development Coordinator
and
Gustavo Licona
Lead Outreach and Gang Prevention Specialist
The very first resident to move into the LifeSpring house is now graduating from North County Lifeline’s transitional housing program. We couldn't be more proud of Omar and his accomplishments over the past two years.
Omar first accessed Lifeline’s services in March 2013 as a Life Achievement Center participant, to set financial and employment goals. Soon after, Omar became the first resident to enter LifeSpring, our transitional youth housing program for former foster youth.
Omar was 20 years old and, after years in the foster care system, had not developed the skills needed to thrive. Omar was working two part-time jobs, did not have a high school diploma, had recently acquired $1,600 in traffic tickets, was struggling to develop a relationship with his 15-month old son, and had recently been served child support papers. He described himself as friendly, disorganized, and hardworking.
During the last 21 months, Omar has shown great resilience and determination.
Omar enrolled in Vista Adult School and graduated with his high school diploma within a few months. He completed North County Lifeline’s employment workshop and found a job which eventually transitioned into a permanent, full-time position which he has maintained for a year. Omar completed a program which cleared his $1,600 in traffic fees and enabled him to keep his driver’s license. To achieve his financial goals, Omar increased his credit score by removing a large medical collection and opening a matched savings account.
Despite a very strained relationship with the mother of his son and uncertainty about his ability to be a good father due to lack of a father figure in his own life, Omar never gave up on developing a relationship with his son. He has stepped up financially, despite having a low income, and is up to date with his child support. Omar now has custody of his son 3 weekends each month.
When he moved in to LifeSpring, Omar set high goals – and he has proudly accomplished them.
Upon graduating from LifeSpring, Omar plans to enroll in the HOME program, a more independent transitional housing program for former foster youth. He is considering attending Universal Technical Institute for diesel technician training in order to enter a career that can provide long-term stability for his family.
With resilience and determination, Omar will succeed along any path he chooses.
Congratulations, Omar.
Story submitted by:
Jacqueline Diem, LifeSpring Case Manager
Rolando Caralampio, Housing Specialist & Income Supports Coach
Our LifeSpring residents are looking for positive role models, who they can call mentors.
Are you up for the challenge?
Imagine, if you can, a lifetime of foster care followed by sudden independence. One day, you turn 18 years old, and you’re on your own. You don’t have family – and if you do, they might not be where you want to turn.
You are at a critical transition point, when even the smallest decisions can have lasting impact.
Now imagine you had a positive role model, someone you could call ‘just cause’. Someone who could meet you at the store to shop for groceries. Someone who knows about things like opening a bank account or how to avoid lines at the DMV.
Our young people are asking for mentors.
To learn more, Melissa Alcazar, North County Lifeline’s Volunteer Program Coordinator, can talk with you further. Please call or email her today for information: 760-842-6254 or malcazar@nclifeline.org.
