SAN CLEMENTE : Students Turn In Gang-Related Attire

First, they met the challenge of changing their attitudes about joining gangs. Now, many students in Monica Vejarano’s prevention program are talking about changing their clothes too.

But such a change is proving to be just as challenging.

While many of the students from San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point are ready to shed their gang-related attire--from oversize black pants to expensive Raiders’ gear and loose white T-shirts with pleats ironed meticulously down the center--they don’t have the money to go out and buy a new wardrobe.

To help such students, most of whom come from low-income families, Vejarano recently appealed to several San Clemente merchants to help her develop an exchange program, where students would turn in their old clothes for new ones, such as blue jeans and colored T-shirts.

Vejarano will soon be contacting merchants in Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano about the exchange program, which would be the first of its type in South County.

“Even if you’re not a gang member, if you dress like one, everyone is going to judge you as one,” said Vejarano, a gang prevention specialist with the nonprofit Community Service Programs.

Some teen-agers, like one 17-year-old student who requested anonymity, have scrimped, saved and even exchanged such things as bikes to get the clothes they have now, which they say help them gain acceptance and respect among their peers.

“I’m trying to change, because there’s a lot of problems with other gang members,” said the student, who is not a gang member but has been labeled one at school because of the way he dresses. “I like these clothes, but I’m trying not to use them anymore. But I don’t have the money to buy any other kinds of clothes. These are the only clothes I have.”

“When I walk out, people think I’m going to punch them,” added another 16-year-old student, who also wears gang-related styles, although he too is not a gang member. “If I change, they won’t feel like that.”

So far, Vejarano said, one store owner in San Clemente has said that students in her group can bring in their white T-shirts to have a design applied for free. She’s still awaiting responses from others.

“If we can start changing the T-shirts, that’s at least a good start,” she said.

Vejarano has also received support from the San Clemente Task Force for Youth in trying to start the exchange program.

Lee Steelman, a leader of the group, said students need the help to get new clothes and should be recognized for making the difficult choice to stay out of gangs. “There’s no way these children can get enough money,” she said. “We’re going to see if we can help them.”

Vejarano works with about 50 intermediate and high school students through the program she developed for the three cities about six months ago called “Stand By Me.”

Vejarano is also meeting with parents of the students to let them know what clothes are considered gang-related.

“They go to the stores and buy these clothes because they want their kids to fit in,” she said. “But they have no idea this clothing is gang-related.”

For information on the exchange program, contact Vejarano at (714) 366-0484.