Teens, Adults Brainstorm on Range of Critical Issues

Prompted by the seemingly endless examples of today’s youth in crisis, a group of community leaders and area teens met Saturday to discuss their generation’s problems and develop strategies to solve them.

The Critical Issues Conference, organized by the Ventura County chapter of the Future Leaders of America, brought more than 70 adults and area high school students to the Oxnard Performing Arts Center for a day of discussion and brainstorming on topics ranging from gang violence to teen pregnancy to drugs.

“We’re at a critical juncture in American society right now,” conference organizer Gilbert Cuevas said. “I’ve seen so little action on the part of adults, so I think it’s time we involve the youth. Maybe they can show us the way.”

The goal of the conference, Cuevas said, was to initiate a groundswell of youth and community activity to provide alternatives and build an awareness among area leaders as to why some young people choose destructive paths.

He hoped the students, chosen by high school guidance counselors because of their leadership ability, would continue the momentum and spur change among their peers through their own examples.

The daylong conference began with an emotional lecture by Father Gregory Boyle of the Dolores Mission in East Los Angeles, who touched on the complexity of problems such as gangs, violence and drug abuse.

“If kids are killing kids . . . if they’re joining gangs . . . if they’re getting pregnant . . . it’s just a symptom that something else, something larger is wrong,” he told the audience. “I know kids that are planning their funerals instead of their futures because they’ve lost hope, and we can’t let that happen.”

After Boyle’s address, the group dispersed to several rooms to discuss topical issues and prepare short presentations on possible solutions.

More than 20 students participated in discussions on gangs and why they prove attractive to some. While the group listed some of the reasons commonly blamed for gang participation, such as family dysfunction and scarce economic opportunities, it also cited other, seldom-recognized reasons for gang activity.

“There’s no more rites of passage for young men today because they don’t have any sense of their history,” said Emigdio Cordova, a discussion leader and member of the Future Leaders of America. “Instead of doing things that teach them responsibility, they get into gangs because that’s what men do.”

Others said gang involvement gives young people a sense of empowerment that may be unattainable in mainstream society. For them, gangs serve as a surrogate for more traditional social organizations that give individuals and communities definition.

Other seminars focused on issues such as teen pregnancy, government services, race and domestic violence.

Afterward, the groups presented conclusions to their peers. The eight students who examined domestic violence put on a short skit to demonstrate its various forms and later offered a set of solutions--such as new legislation and more support services--that they believed would stem the incidence of abuse in the home.

Conference organizers said the event presented a novel approach to solving the problems that have stymied legislators and community leaders. They felt combining the knowledge and experience of young people with the wisdom of adults would provide realistic strategies to eliminate the malaise of today’s youth.

“It’s good that we’ve got these people talking to one another, because they can help each other find answers,” said Ray Vuillemainroy of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department. “Ultimately, though, it’s going to be the kids who make the difference, and it’s encouraging to see them taking the initiative.”

The students also seemed relieved that they finally had a forum that valued their opinions.

“Everything we did here opened doors for young people that will end up helping the community,” said Jesse Sandoval, a sophomore at Oxnard High School.

“I think that if we try, all of us, we’ll be able to make things work and give everybody a reason to be proud.”