OXNARD : Student Event Stresses Drugless, Gangless Life

In an effort to learn about alternatives to alcohol, drugs and gangs, about 200 teen-agers participated in a daylong conference Saturday at Channel Islands High School in Oxnard.

Workshops for the students--who ranged from freshmen to seniors--included empowerment, drug abuse, gang violence and teen pregnancy.

According to Vereniz Castellon, who helped organize the event, the conference focused on students not involved in student government, athletics or other extracurricular activities.

“We observed that there is a significant portion of the student body that was unconnected,” said Castellon, 18. “Most of these students are leaning toward gang life or are bilingual. We felt we need to do something that would begin to address their needs.”

The event, organized by students with the permission of the high school administration, also drew about 25 parents.

“I got involved first because I am concerned about the campus environment that my daughter is exposed to,” said Yolanda Ramos, 35, whose daughter is a freshman at the school.

“But I also think parents are going to have to get involved in the education of their kids. As hard as the teachers, counselors and administrators here work, there are still too many students who are going without the guidance and encouragement they need,” she said.

For freshman Silverio Jimenez, 15, the event was both a learning opportunity and a chance to reflect on the problems facing his classmates.

“Students today have a lot of pressures put on them,” Silverio said.

“This event hopefully made people aware of the importance of education and their alternatives to drugs and gangs.”