Youth Forum Tackles Social Ills in County’s Poorest Neighborhoods

The children took the microphone one at a time. Words on a large note pad outlined plans for a better future: reduced class sizes, cutting drugs and alcohol, better schools, decreased truancy, inexpensive and safe housing.

Dozens of children and teens from disadvantaged neighborhoods gathered Friday at an Orange restaurant to help chart a better future. They were joined by their parents and representatives from health, law enforcement, social service and religious groups.

The event was co-sponsored by St. Joseph Health Systems, the California Wellness Foundation and Latino Health Access as part of a project looking at the 92701 ZIP Code in Santa Ana, described by officials as one of the poorest, most troubled areas in Orange County.

Participants said the conference left them with hope.

“Now I feel more direction toward reducing alcohol and drug abuse for what we call a healthier community,” said America Bracho, executive director of Latino Health Access. “It gives us strength through partnerships. Now we are sure we are talking to each other.”

This is the second year of the project. Last year, the teens looked at issues in their community--from gun violence to joblessness--and identified drug and alcohol abuse as the predominant problem. The participants will take the action plans that came out of this three-day summit and try to make them work.

Moises Vazquez, 17, a Youth Council member and one of the conference planners, said communication between parents and children is key.

Luis Diaz, a 16-year-old junior at Santa Ana High School, joined the Youth Council because he thought it was time for a change.

“I don’t want my children to go through the same problems that I went through,” he said.