Reducing Recidivism: PCRC Plans For Program That Will Integrate Incarcerated Teens Back Into the Community
On April 16th and 17th, PCRC, in partnership with Conflict Resolution Center, brought together nearly 30 staff and volunteers, professional mediators, police officers, and other community members for a training on the exciting new Family Reentry Conferencing Program that PCRC will launch in 2012-2013.
The objective of the Family Reentry Conferencing Program is to aid previously incarcerated youth as they transition back into their families and their communities. In essence this would include a youth speaking with his or her family, probation officer, and other community members such as teachers or church leaders before reentering into the community. This program is made possible through a grant from the Probation Department with the understanding that the Probation Department will refer youth in need of the program to PCRC. The Family Reentrance Conferencing Program will be voluntary and free of charge to all who wish to utilize its services.
PCRC is delighted to provide this needed service to San Mateo County. Beyond helping individuals transition smoothly into their communities once again, there is a hope that in the long term, the program will reduce recidivism—the act of previously incarcerated people returning to prison after release—in San Mateo County. There is evidence that this type of program helps to achieve this goal. Most importantly, the Family Reentrance Conferencing Program will increase the number of strong, communicative families in San Mateo County. PCRC is excited to take the next steps of making this program a reality.
Read MoreEveryday heroes work far beyond the ’9 to 5′
For more information: http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1750445&title=Everyday%20heroes%20work%20far%20beyond%20the%20%279%20to%205%27
Read MoreCelebrating Our Past, Shaping Our Future
On the bright, sunny afternoon of May 20, 2012, PCRC, in partnership with Redwood City Together (RCT), hosted “Celebrating the Past; Shaping our Future,” a fun-filled community event that showcased youth and immigrant groups in the Redwood City Area. The event featured music, dance, videos and students’ works of art that were on display in the San Mateo County History Museum.
The objectives of this event were to celebrate diversity in Redwood City and instill awareness of Redwood City’s youth’s role in the community as well as promote unity between new immigrants and long-time community members. Even though it was the first event of this nature and purpose that PCRC and RCT have organized, there was an outstanding turnout of almost 500 participants who thoroughly enjoyed the exposure to youth groups’ various projects.
“Some attendants even asked PCRC staff how they could get involved and support the initiative to build cultural awareness and integration in the community,” reported PCRC Community Engagement Specialist Cindy Marroquin.
With this amount of participation and enthusiasm, there is no questioning the impact this event had on the Redwood City Community: it helped to highlight the achievements of immigrants, integrate them into the community and reveal the similarities of what both immigrants and long-time community members value. It is PCRC’s hope that in the future this awareness will continue to spread via more community and youth oriented events.
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In Honor of Corinne
Corinne Centeno passed away peacefully at her home on June 13, 2012, following a brave battle with cancer. Corinne was born in San Francisco to Charles and Margery Becker. She is survived by her son Diego Centeno (Mikaela), brothers Craig Becker and Marc Becker (Sharon) and nephews Brad and Matthew.
Corinne called Redwood City home for 45 years. She established deep roots in the community through her many friendships and her career in public service. She loved to be with family and friends whether it was a backyard barbeque, a community celebration or a more serious public meeting where issues of local importance were being discussed. While deeply committed to the local community, she was adventurous and enjoyed her frequent travels, with Italy being one of her favorite destinations.
She began her public service career in 1976 at the Fair Oaks Community Center, and advanced to become Manager of that Center serving with great compassion and respect the people most in need throughout our community, providing shelter, food, clothing, and other basic human services. Her commitment to the community continued when she was appointed as the first Assistant to the City Manager where for nearly four years she used her renowned skills in facilitation, diplomacy, and civic engagement to build a better community. Corinne’s devotion to creating great places and programs as a means of ensuring a better quality of life for the people of Redwood City brought her back to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department where she served as Superintendent, and then for an extraordinary ten years as Director.
Corinne’s devotion to the community transcended her work with Redwood City. As an active volunteer she served on the boards of Shelter Network and the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, and was a champion for the fight against cancer working tirelessly with the American Cancer Society to organize the community’s annual Relay for Life event. Through her creativity and courage she accomplished great things for the community, demonstrating commitment and passion for service, always showing great integrity and unfailingly doing the right thing no matter the challenges.
Corinne’s list of achievements on behalf of the community are immense, it is however the woman behind all of these great accomplishments that her family and many dear friends remember with such deep affection. The faith that Corinne had in each of us, helped us aspire to be the best that we can be. She held each of us to a high standard, while all the while providing gentle guidance, a measure of wit, and rock solid support as we reached to fulfill our goals and dreams. She combined a depth of caring, with her wonderful sense of humor, to bring joy and laughter to all that she did. Her family, friends and colleagues will miss her hard work and leadership, her smile, her laughter, her energy, her compassion, her sense of adventure and her positive attitude that so often buoyed our spirits and those of the entire community.
A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held on Saturday, July 14th at the Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Avenue, Redwood City from 1 to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation, 1400 Roosevelt, Ave, Redwood City, CA 94061.
North Central San Mateo’s 2012 “Everyday Heroes” To Be Honored At Reception
San Mateo, CA. – June 21, 2012 – The North Central San Mateo Community Wellness Initiative will host the 3rd Annual “Everyday Heroes” reception on Thursday, June 28th, 2012, from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Martin Luther King Center in San Mateo.
The 2012 honorees have worked selflessly to improve the lives of others and create a safe and thriving neighborhood. Nominated by the community of North Central San Mateo, they are Ruby Kaho (Partnership Hero), Bennie Shannon & Joshua Hugg (Sunshine Neighbor Heroes), Allen Haysbert (Prevention Hero), Erik Waldorf (Merchant Hero), and Timothy Niupalau (Youth Hero).
“We are so excited to be able to honor people who don’t often receive the recognition they deserve. Every day these unsung heroes engage in work that has a positive effect in North Central San Mateo, and they do it without expecting anything in return,” says Michelle Vilchez, Executive Director of Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center.
The “Everyday Heroes” reception is open to the public. Spanish interpretation services and childcare will be provided. For more information, please contact Malissa Netane at mnetane@prcrcweb.org or 650-513-0330 x310.
The North Central San Mateo Community Wellness Initiative is a service provided by Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center to unite and strengthen the North Central San Mateo family by promoting healthier lifestyles through education, communication, collaboration, and celebration.
The Initiative’s community partners include the African American Community Health Advisory Committee, the Police Activities League, Pilgrim Organization, Inc., YMCA Youth Services Bureau, and the Youth Leadership Institute.
Contact: Evelia Chairez
Phone: 650-513-0330 x313
Email: echairez@pcrcweb.org
Always Running, Revisited
It’s been many years since I read Luis J. Rodriguez’ bestselling, award-winning memoir Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. In anticipation of his keynote address at PCRC’s upcoming fundraiser luncheon on June 14th, I spent a good 30 minutes fruitlessly searching for my personal copy. I finally resigned myself to the idea that it had been filched by one of my cousins, and I headed to my local bookstore to reacquaint myself with the prose of Mr. Rodriguez.
It didn’t take long to remember how beautifully he writes, with what precision and command. The story of his early life is infused with sadness, like in this short paragraph where he becomes entranced by the violence a clica called Thee Mystics deliver to his middle school:
““I froze as the head-stomping came dangerously my way. But I was also intrigued. I wanted this power. I wanted to be able to bring a whole school to its knees and even make teachers squirm. All my school life until then had been poised against me: telling me what to be, what to say, how to say it. I was a broken boy, shy and fearful. I wanted what Thee Mystics had; I wanted the power to hurt somebody.”
Other sections reveal his astounding gift for rhythm and imagery: his poet’s voice.
“Along the spine of the night, through the shrubbery, on the coarse roads, past the peeling shacks, past the walls filled with the stylized writing that proclaimed our existence, past La India’s shed where boys discovered the secret of thighs, in the din of whispers, past Berta’s garden of herbs and midnight incantations, past the Japo’s liquor store, past the empty lots scattered around the barrio we called ‘the fields,’ overlooking Nina’s house, pretty Nina, who lavished our dreams, there you’d find the newest and strongest clique. There you’d find the Animal Tribe.”
The beauty of this language, juxtaposed with the grim reality of the author’s life in East L.A., is only one of the reasons why Always Running is a meaningful experience for readers. The story of Mr. Rodriguez’ early life is a reminder, too, of how little has changed for some of our youth, and how vital PCRC’s work continues to be in our community.
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