Latin American Youth Club

News Articles, 1998
News Articles, Main Page

Latin American Youth Center Responds to the Community. Opens New Doors at 30 Yrs.

The InTowner Newspaper
by Nancy Nichols Jagelka

The opening on September 16, 1998 of the new Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) building on Columbia Road was a festive homecoming for staff, students and alumni. As student speakers rehearsed their speeches, dignitaries mixed with neighborhood youth, and generations of staff embraced each other in celebration.

As the Youth Center enters its 31st year, it celebrates three decades of outreach with a comprehensive array of services and programs designed to fit the needs of the community's youth.

"When the youth walk in here," says Lori Kaplan, LAYC's executive director, "they can tell that good things are happening." Services and programs now range from a charter school, to a recording studio and youth radio program, as well as teen drop in center, computer classes, and a health promoter program. 'The youth center," says Kaplan, "is a springboard for youth into the 21st century."

During the past three-and-a-half years of fund-raising and renovating, the center engaged community members as well as students to participate in the process of renovating the once-abandoned Columbia Road apartment building near the cornerof 14th Street. Students became the center's moving company, participants in the "YouthBuild" program helped with renovations, and computers were wired and set by alumni. The staff and youth also were involved in the re-design of the building's interior. "it reflects what they wanted," said Master of Ceremonies Pedro Aviles at the opening. Previously, the l4th Street area was known more for youth hanging on the streets than inside at a youth cen ter. Now, with the center's open door bustle of daily activity, the neighborhood is alive with a renewed youthful energy.

"We couldn't have done this without the history of the 30 years we have," says Kaplan. "That history made us strong enough to handle this. That history," says Kaplan. "is the foundation of the center's philosophy and core. We live by our values," she says. "If we lose that voice we have nothing. You can't forget where you came from. You can't forget all who contributed to get it where it is today. Because of this, there's an energy around the center. I always felt that the youth center was unique because of its history."

A part of this history are the volunteers and participants in the center's program who have now become staff . The new generation of administrators once called streets their home (or as was the case of Kaplan volunteered almost full-time -- because I was hooked -- while she waitressed at night). "I started in the days when there was a very small dedicated group "We did everything from teaching, to counseling, to tutoring, to driving people around. I've seen a generation of kids grow up," she says. "It's a real anchor for the kids to know that some of the staff who they were close to are still here. What makes a difference in these kids lives... is about relationships."

"We used to hang out at the soccer field," says Alvin Alvarado, the center's recreation program coordinator, "We had no place to go." LAYC workers invited him to check out the center, and asked what kind of activities he needed. They gave us half of what we wanted," says Alvarado, "And then they kept trying to improve the services." Within time, they asked him to be a youth worker.

"The Center is my second home," says Alvarado. "And most of the participants feel the same way, so I know where they are coming from. Sometimes when I take a vacation, I stay home half a day, and then come to the center to see how it's doing." As his toddler daughter tugs his arm (she has been patiently playing while he speaks to me at the center), Alvarado excuses himself to show her to the ladies room. Staff family members are a familiar sight at the center.

"Our message is to help one another continues Alvarado. "No matter what. As long as you want to help, that's what's most important. Because I come from the center, I believe it is an advantage. I believe that that's the way life is, a circle. The center already helped me, and now I help others. I teach adults to have patience with the youth, and not give up on them. For some humans, it takes a loth of mistakes before they get it right. I believe you have to give people a chance.

"Alvin knows what I've been through, says Alex Salazar, 24, who has been coming to the center since 1988, "And that's pretty cool. I was hanging out on the streets, selling drugs.... I lived more on the streets than at home. The center taught me not use bad language and you don't need to fight to talk. I moved out of my house when I was 15 years old, learned by myself, not with my family. It's like a second family here," he says, "I learned about community. Before we were a club with different cultures and learned good and evil on the street. Now some [members] come here, some work, some have family and kids, and . . . . some died. "

"Meeting the needs of youth and family says Maria Theresa Candomil, chair of LAYC's board, "is central to the mission of LAYC. We have had to be flexible as an organization and grow to meet changing needs. We have a diversity of services now, and more diverse programs. We have kept our integrity, and our responsibility to our mission of youth and family in the neighborhoods. Although we were created to serve Latino youth", she says, "Now we have youth from Mexico, Vietnam, the Carribean, non-Hispanic, the Islands, African- Americans."

"The LAYC is my third family," says Vietnam native Tung Hoang, 20. "People accept me for who I am here. And I learned to accept people for the way they are." Currently involved in the LAYC/Americorps program which promotes community service, Hoang says, "The center taught me to share with people who may seem different. I'm learning to speak Spanish, and I taught some of my friends some basic words in Vietnamese." He adds, "This is the place that helps me to get adapted to new cultures and languages. If I didn't hang out here, I wouldn't have the same friends or the opportunities to get skills to work. I want to come back and work at LAYC," he says. I want to keep in touch with the center until my hair is gray."

"At LAYC you have a family," says Candomil. We have a transitional living program where we work with young people who are runaways. We give them a family, a home environment.The whole center is that ... a place to go, to contribute where there are opportunities and a sense of belonging."

"I didn't know what community was all about," says Patricia Rios, 17, and a member of the Teen Health Promoter Program. Every other Saturday, Rios and her friend, Wendy Guardado, 16, visit the teen clinic at the St. Mary's Center on Ontario Road and talk to youth about health issues. "I'm shy," says Guardado. "But this has taught me to do outreach, and to tell about diseases, health, and family issues. It also taught me to work for my community, to help your community."

"Maybe other teens can get inspired by what we are doing," says Rios. "We told our friends at school and they just started. Friends look up to friends," she adds. "I want to be a pediatrician," says Rios. "And I want to be a social worker, or in public health," says Wendy. "This program helps decide if you really want to go into the medical field," says Rios. "They care about everybody," adds Guardado.

"This is where the action is," says Teresa Grana, board member and one of the fund- raisers for LAYC's capital campaign. "This is where kids' lives are being formed." Crana, an art historian who came to DC in the 1960s, believes that LAYC is "real education, where the education of life takes place." Sergio Luna, who heads up the Teen Drop-In Center, is a reflection of that belief. A former intelligence officer for the Guatemalan military, Luna was involved with gangs, in his native land before he entered the military. "We weren't too wild," he says. His involvement monitoring the teen center also includes anywhere from 60 to 90 phone calls a week to parents. "I speak with parents twice a week," lie says. "We talk about any changes, concerns. I work here not just because I need a job, but because I like the job that I do."

Luna empathizes with the youth. He lost his father when he was 11-years-old and he says some youth spend all their time at the center because "they don't have meals, and some don't know who their parent's are." As a military officer lie witnessed mariy tortures arid kidnappings and finally fled 'his native land for tile United States. For more than five- years he was unable to see his family. When they finally arrived here he found the transition difficult. "Dealing with these youth [at the center] is different than with others or your own kids," lie says. "You do the best You can, even if sometimes its bad."

There is much sweat and determination behind tile facade of LAYC's new home, and the success stories that roam the halls of the brightly colored interior reflect that tenacity. Visits to the computer classroom or teen center are invitations for the youth to share their stories, how their lives were changed by the center and what they now want to be. One voice in particular rises to celebrate the core values LAYC has defined for her and others like her.

Carolyn Ventura is 18 Years old and a recent graduate of the YouthBuild Program. A striking young woman with dark eyes and delicate features, Ventura, like many of the youth at LAYC needed to find a better way. "Before I thought I was not capable of learning," says Ventura. "Here, I meet a lot of people, arid if I have problems, they will listen to me."

For most of her voting life Ventura his struggled with alcohol and family problems. She was expelled from high school, and after attending a private Christian school in West Virginia at her mother's insistence, she dropped out and returned to DC. She was out of school for two months before her uncle persuaded her to try LAYC's YouthBuild Program. I thought I'm not doing anything with my life, but can't be depending on people. Let me try the program. I learned construction skills and carpentry" says Ventura." I also enjoyed working with other people and workmg as a team."

"YouthBuild is a wonderful program," says board chair Candomil. "All the youth are 'at risk' and have dropped out of high school. They come to learn to renovate buildings and get their GED's."

"It's been great, I've gotten to know more people that won't get me in trouble," she says. I know that you can do something, if you put your mind to it. Someone needs to help the community, and YouthBuild is a good place. I used to think negative, but now I changed my thinking. Now I think about having my own place, and being with my boyfriend. I feel like I am loved now."

The Latin American Youth Center is located at 1419 Columbia Road. Donations are being accepted to offset the $200,000 balance of the renovation costs and to match a $250,000 Kresge Foundation grant. More information can be had by calling Executive Director Lori Kaplan at 202-319-2225.