ACR 102, creates pathways to economic empowerment and self sufficiency
(SACRAMENTO, CA) Today, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia’s (D-Coachella) ACR 102, declaring the month of August as California “Opportunity Youth Reengagement Month” was successfully adopted in Assembly third reading.
“Over 700,000 youth in California are out of school and out of work due to lack of opportunity stemming from poverty, drug abuse, or being subject to violence and other trauma in their families and in their neighborhoods. This resolution seeks to create additional opportunities for students whose life circumstances have led them off the traditional path of high school, college and career,” professed Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia.
“Education is not one size fits all, and as a state we must work harder to provide resources and services that integrate, rather than further ostracize vulnerable youth, often from low-income communities of color, who lack adequate support systems. This measure calls for developing a statewide strategy, proactive and cost effective approach to reengage and equip these underserved populations of students with both the educational and workforce development tools needed to achieve economic empowerment and self-sufficiency.”
“We have proof that with a concentrated effort we can reap the desired results in underserved communities with historically high levels of poverty and unemployment. SIATech El Centro is a prime example of an individualized educational plan school, with a successful track record.”
Ernie Silvia, SIATech Executive Director of External Affairs stated, “At SIATech we have graduated 180 students in the last three years locally, and statewide our schools graduated 7,000 in the last 20 years,” said Silva. “We have discovered the secret sauce: caring adult relationships, real learning for real life-job skills of the future and personalization of learning where our students do homework on high tech tools but return to class and interact with teachers who recognize their particular needs and move them forward.”
SIATech served as the resolution’s chief sponsor. The National Center for Youth Law, California Opportunity Youth Coalition, the United Way, PolicyLink and Riverside County Office of Education are among other entities and organizations who have lent their support to this initiative.
