OCEANSIDE PROMISE PARTNERS JOIN TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF LATINO YOUNG MEN

What do we do when data tells us that a group of students could benefit from better aligned and focused support? You bring together some of the best Oceanside has to offer!

The Oceanside Promise's Latino Young Men Success Pilot is an innovative wrap-around collaboration involving the Boys & Girls Club of Oceanside, MiraCosta College, North County Lifeline, Vista Community Clinic, Transformational Consulting, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego County Office of Education, Interfaith Community Services, Genentech, Oceanside High School, El Camino High School and more.

Several of the partners are providing mentorship during weekly sessions at each of the high schools where the Latino young men involved are supported in developing emotional intelligence, postsecondary plans, and employability skills. The mentors, all Latino males who have inspiring personal and professional backgrounds, provide a safe space where relationships are built and expectations for the young men are high.

"Our goal is to surround these young men with people who believe in their limitless potential," commented Robert Guerrero, program manager with BGCO and the lead mentor at Oceanside High School. "We've seen many of them become more self-aware, confident, and excited about their futures in the short time we have been working with them."

The Pilot launched in early 2019 with a full-day retreat at MiraCosta College including Roberto Rivas of Encuentros Leadership and Professor Martin Leyva of California State University San Marcos. Since the launch, the teenagers have met weekly at their respective high schools and taken trips to Barrio Logan and the Boys & Girls Club. The Oceanside Museum of Art is customizing an experience for them on May 15. 

Other partners such as the Chamber, SDCOE, Interfaith, and San Diego Health & Human Services Agency are working together on employability skills workshops for the young men, coordinating an internship workshop for companies in North County, and securing paid internships with businesses and organizations in Oceanside.

Scott Ashton, CEO of the Chamber and Oceanside Promise co-chair, explains, "The business community has a vested interest in helping to develop Oceanside's youth for the workforce. We all win by giving these young men and other students real-world experiences and exposure to a variety of careers."

The goal is to expand the Pilot next year (2019/2020) to include thirty Latino young men at each high school attending 11th and 12th grade. The Oceanside Promise is actively recruiting Latino male mentors for 2019/2020. If you are interested, complete the mentor & role model questionnaire.  To host a young man in the Pilot as an intern or to sponsor one ($2,500), contact Nicole Magnuson at [email protected] or 760.966.4067.