Students Show Civic Pride by Sweeping Up Sidewalks : Education: Sepulveda Middle School youths return a favor by responding to a councilman’s cleanup call.

More than two dozen youngsters spent Saturday morning sweeping the sidewalks along Pacoima’s busy Van Nuys Boulevard in an exercise in practical altruism.

*

“This is our community and we want to have pride in it,” said Manricio Valdovinos, 14.

It may have been their community, but it wasn’t their neighborhood.

The kids were all from Sepulveda Middle School, the only group responding to the cleanup call of Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon’s Youth Improvement Council.

Teacher Francisco Flores said the group was there partly as a favor to the councilman.

“Alarcon has helped us with tickets to games and buses for trips,” Flores said. “We’ve gone to the circus, to the zoo and last week to a World Cup festival, where there was a soccer coach from Great Britain teaching the kids.”

Not only that, said Edgar N. Camacho, 14. “We get points for extracurricular activities in a course called ‘Leadership,’ ” Edgar said. “One time we took part in an aerobics marathon in a fund-raiser for the American Heart Assn.”

Flores has also told his students that he will be trying to round up summer job opportunities. “I tell them I want to see how well they can work,” Flores said with a smile.

One thing should not be overlooked, the teacher added: “These kids could be gangbangers, but they are not. Most kids are good.”

Whatever the incentive, merchants along half a dozen blocks of the boulevard were appreciative, donating drinks or offering food without being asked.

Antonia Tejada, who runs an immigration service business with her daughter Carmen, came out with a $5 bill in hand, hoping to give it to a leader in appreciation for the youngsters who swept the small parking lot outside her office.

“I hope everybody helps them,” she said. “This is very, very important.”

Gloria Araya, another Sepulveda Middle School teacher, said, “There are nice people around here.”

Talking to several kids drinking from cans of cola near the end of their volunteer work, Araya assured them: “We’ll be sure to write a letter to the principal to let them know what you did today. Everybody’s name will be on the letter.”

“Did you get my name?” asked Ramses Altamirano, 13.

“We got everybody’s name,” Araya replied.