TEENS AIR ISSUES AT EMPTY CAPITOL

The national day of mourning silenced many things at the Capitol on
Friday; an ambitious group of Central Valley teenagers was not among
them.

About 35 of them met in a conference room to address what they
identified to be the most important issues facing youths: substance
abuse, teen pregnancy, jobs and the economy and the lack of a youthful
voice in decision-making.

Although the intended audience of legislators and their staff members
never materialized because of the memorial service for former
President Ronald Reagan, the teens nonetheless described the extent to
which their communities struggle with these problems and made policy
recommendations on how to address them.

The students were participating in a program called "Catapult: Youth Leaders
for the Great Valley," intended to introduce teenagers to public policy and
encourage civic involvement.

"It gives them a sense of empowerment that they do have a voice,"
program director Arturo Lomeli said. "They are being heard, and they
can be heard."

At least two students, nominated by adults in their community,
represented each of the Central Valley's 19 counties.

Representing Placer County were recent Roseville High School graduates
Alma Caravarin, Ramon Silva and Merna Qurraa and incoming senior
Efrain Ramirez.

Lomeli said the program typically targets students in after-school
programs or at continuation schools - students often not involved in
the community or not exposed to similar educational
opportunities.

"That's the target group throughout the Central Valley that really
isn't invested in much," he said.

But on Friday, the students were models of organization, passion and
preparation, armed with statistics as well as solutions.

One group advocated rehabilitation for substance abusers over
incarceration and peer-to-peer counseling in schools. They also
denounced some legislators' efforts to implement random drug testing
among high school athletes.

"We feel the law enforcement approach has been proven ineffective,"
participant Ashley Beecham of Glenn County said. "The drug-use rate
has remained the same."

Students also recounted personal anecdotes to illustrate the need for
more programs to address substance abuse.

"(A friend) always comes to me for help, and I have no idea how to
help him," Isabel Sauceda of Butte County said. "He's scared, and he
doesn't know what to do. I just feel we don't have the support and the
programs to help my friend."

Students researching teen pregnancy said the Central Valley has the
highest teenage birth rate in California. They advocated that sex
education start earlier and expand from the typical one semester
taught in ninth grade.

"Learning is a process of repetition - that's why we have homework,"
Jimmie Bradford of Kern County said. "How could one semester possibly
be enough?"

Presenters on jobs and the economy said they support the expansion of
vocational training programs to better prepare students to enter the
work force.

They also blasted Proposition 13, saying the property-tax law should
be repealed to bring more money into state coffers. Indian gaming
casinos also should be taxed, as they are in Nevada, the students said.

"It seems only fair that the owners of these establishments pay taxes
as citizens of the state of California," Claudia Coons of Yolo County
said.

Lastly, students addressing the lack of youthful voices in
decision-making challenged elected officials to create advisory boards
made up of young people.

They also encouraged community leaders to actively solicit input from
youths.

"We came to the Capitol to talk to you, but do senators or Assembly
members come to our schools to talk to us?" J.T. Robinson of Merced
County asked. "I haven't seen one lately."

Students said the 11-month program opened their eyes to issues facing
Central Valley youths and forced them to think critically about
avenues for change.

"It was something I didn't really think about before," said Caravarin,
who participated in the jobs and economy forum. "I came here and
started doing research into job training. It gave me a (different
perspective)."

Qurraa said she learned the value of teamwork and the dividends it can
pay.

"Working together as a group can change many things if everyone puts
their minds together," she said. "We have actually researched and done
a lot of hard work on these issues."

Silva and Ramirez both said their experience in the program helped
them gain critical leadership, research and communication skills.

"I know it'll help me," Ramirez said. "These are skills you learn that
help you out in life."