Garcia 1

Aristides Garcia
Ms. Malvin
English 115
11 December 2015

Salvation for the Youth

Los Angeles is a bright city with so much to offer, but its also a city that plagues its
youth with gangs, drugs, unprotected sex, and the struggle of sexual orientation. From the ages
of 13 to 18 teenagers go through a very sensitive time where the people around them can define
who these teenagers turn out to be. In Los Angeles it can be very hard for teenagers struggling
with these problems to find support or acceptance. By starting the Youth Salvation organization,
a safe-haven will be created that will be dedicated to educating teenagers about drugs, gangs,
unprotected sex, and sexual orientation many teenagers could be saved from suicide, going to
jail, or even an STD. Starting in the heart of Los Angeles, Hollywood, a wider audience of
teenagers will have easier access to the facility and eventually, Youth Salvation will grow into
other facilities. The sole purpose of the organization is to create a brighter future for the
teenagers of Los Angeles who are struggling to keep going. I sincerely urge the creation of the
Youth Salvation center in concern for the health and safety of the troubled youth in LA. The
future of Los Angeles City will soon be in their hands.
The organization will work hard to develop programs that will deal with the major
problems in Los Angeles; gangs, drugs, unprotected sex, and sexual orientation. In order to
provide the best experience for the teenagers, the organization will be in partnership with nonprofit organizations such as Planned Parenthood: who help with sexual education and
H.E.L.P.E.R.: who help with keeping children out of gangs. They can give talks to the youth and
host events for Youth Salvation. There are many other organizations and groups that could

Garcia 2

sponsor Youth Salvation as well as hold events and have activities. Most often times gang
members and the youth at risk of becoming a gang member are seen as hopeless and lost.
Communities give up on these poor souls and nobody is willing to stick up for them. With a
public space like this in Los Angeles many teenagers will be able to have somewhere they can go
for support, love, and answers to the questions that are leading them to teenage pregnancies,
gangs, and jail. In order to cover all issues, the organizations building will be dived into sections
that will be called departments. One department will be dedicated to helping teenagers who are at
risk to fall into gangs, another will deal with the risks of drugs, similarly the third department
will deal with the risks of unprotected sex, and the last department will help teenagers who are
dealing with the struggles of their sexual orientation
In order for the gang department to be most effective, the organization will create
different sports teams in which these teenagers will be taught discipline, teamwork, and respect.
Its surprising and inspiring what the youth can do with just a little support and care. Take Luis
Rodriguez for example, who explains in his book Always Running how as a gang member in his
youth he would participate in community centers. Had he not ever found support within these
community centers then maybe Los Angeles would not had become home to one of the greatest
local Hispanic writers of his time. They will be shown that they too have the ability and
possibility to make big things happen and that they dont need to find support in some gang.They
will also be given activities in which they can grow independently and rise above the challenge.
The point of the gang-prevention department is to try and save as many of todays youth from
falling into the pressure of gangs. With this movement Youth Salvation hopes to clear the streets
of gangs and raise more firefighters, police men, or doctors.

Garcia 3

Following up to the gang-prevention department is the second department that will be

dedicated to explaining drugs. This includes cigarettes all the way to alcohol. Teenagers will be
not just simply be told that drugs and alcohol are bad and will instead be shown the crucial
effects of they can have on teenagers. Guest speakers who are working through rehabilitation or
have surpassed their drug or alcohol addiction will be invited to speak to the young boys and
girls. These teenagers are at a mature age and because of this, the harsh reality of drug and
alcohol addiction will not be sugar coated. They will see the horrible problems and hardships that
drugs cause and how dark theyre futures look with these addictions. Teenagers will be
introduced to different methods of dealing with stress, depression, or social pressure that causes
them to fall for drugs. Activities such as sports, poetry night, or even dance sessions can help the
youth deal with their problems and avoid drugs or alcohol. By increasing drug and alcohol
awareness, the drug-prevention department hopes to make teenagers more aware of what the
risks of drugs are.
Youth Salvations third department is designed to help teenagers with sexual education. Between
the ages of 13-17 most teenagers begin to explore sexual pleasures. According to an article by
nbc news the Kinsey Institute; California State Universitys research discovered that the average
male loses his virginity between 16 and 17 years of age and the average female loses her
virginity around 17 to 18 years of age. Teenagers who are sexually uneducated can make
mistakes that can end up with them having STDs, getting pregnant, or hurting themselves. Youth
Salvations sexual awareness department will be dedicated to educating teenagers about the risk
of having unprotected sex. People who have experienced and survived STDs as well as women
who were teenage moms will be invited to speak for the youth and give their testimony.
Teenagers will be allowed to anonymously talk to a sex advisor or attend presentations. At these

Garcia 4

presentations sex advisors will speak to the youth about the risks of unprotected sex and how to
avoid them. In hopes of working with other organizations such as Planned Parenthood, guest
speakers from other organizations will be invited to presentations and the teenagers in the
department will be talked to about these organizations clinics. Teenagers will be explained how
condoms and other forms of birth control work as well as explanations of different types of
sexually transmitted diseases and their symptoms. If cases ever arose where a teenager might
think he or she could be infected with a disease or pregnant, the will be referred to clinics that
deal specifically with teenagers and have a close watch with them. This departments mission is
to sexually educate as many teenagers as possible to lower the number of teenagers infected with
sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies.
The last department in Youth Salvation is the LGBT department. This department will
share certain presentations and certain speakers for the teenagers but will be held in separate
areas. It will deal with teenagers who are dealing with being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or
transgendered in todays society. Kids in schools can be bullied or out-casted due to their sexual
orientation. Youth Salvation will teach these teenagers how to deal with society and show them a
place where they are accepted and cared for. These teenagers will also be shown presentations
explaining to them the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and how to avoid them or where to
get checked. With this department in play we hope that teenagers in Los Angeles will feel more
comfortable expressing who they are instead of lying and suffering in silence. These teenagers
will also be sexually educated about the risks they can confront and trained to help other
teenagers who were lost the same way they were. With these four departments inspiring and
changing the lives of the troubled youth, the Youth Salvation organization will help better the
Los Angeles area by creating a more disciplined, a more educated, and a more dedicated youth.

Garcia 5

The Youth Salvation program will have to attract and maintain teenagers interested in
returning to the organization. No teenager is forced to stay or even come at all to the program. In
order for the organization to be most effective, it will have to feel and looks like a teenagerfriendly environment. Classes and desks make teenagers feel like they are just at another class
and can sometimes prevent them from learning or wanting to participate. In order to avoid this,
the 4 departments in Youth salvation will be decorated by the youth themselves. The teenagers in
the different departments will feel at home because the environment they will learn and perform
in is one that they created themselves to their own perfection. Desks will be replaced by bean
bags and couches and books will be replaced by attractive presentations. The staff will all have
degrees in certain areas depending into what department they want to help at. To make teenagers
even more motivated, youth members who have been at the program for long times and show
promising leadership skills or huge change will be asked by the organization to become a
volunteer and help with Youth Salvation activities and events. With this, the organization will
give students something to put on their college apps that can be of some help. Youth Salvation
will also have a Field in the back that will be shared amongst the Football and Soccer teams.
Teenagers will practice during practice times and have friendly games there. Certain events and
rallies will also be held in the field such as fundraisers or huge guest events. An indoor basketball
court will be provided to the basketball team to practice during practice times. Female and male
teams will be separated to avoid injuries but will be brought together for special events. In order
to make sure that teenagers who participate regularly in Youth Salvation are not abusing the
facility, they will be required to turn in semester or yearly schedules of their school classes in
order for the organization to know whether or not the teenager is ditching, cheating, or even
fleeing from somewhere. Teenagers who also participate often will be asked to turn in semester

Garcia 6

grades. Teenagers who demonstrate poor grading will be referred to a separated smaller
department in Youth Salvation. In the smaller department, the bright future department, teenagers
will be able to get tutoring if needed in many different subjects. Teenagers will also have the
chance to find counseling and talk about why he or she feels like they are performing poorly in
school (if they are) and hopefully find a way to improve. Another benefit from this small
department is that teenagers who seek help can find tips for careers they are interested in. Youth
Salvation can find people connected to the organization that are willing to speak to a group of
interested teenagers, help maybe get some teenagers some non-paid internships, or just instruct
them as to what is required to achieve a certain career or even choose a career. By creating an
environment teenager-friendly and providing them with many opportunities to follow their
dreams or their interests Youth Salvation will provide Los Angeles with a public space that will
help teenagers with problems to strive and continue on. These teenagers will determine the future
of Los Angeles.
In an effort to ensure a brighter future, the teenagers of today must be educated and
shown support. Professor Abdallah II of Jordan once said, The incentive that you give your
youth is going to be the make-or-break future of the country. This is why I believe that Youth
Salvation would be the most beneficial public space in Los Angeles. Growing up personally in
Los Angeles, I have seen the struggles of many teenagers. Not every teenager suffers through the
same issues that people imagine. Many teenagers end up throwing away their lives at the hands
of drugs, alcohol, or gangs in Los Angeles. With Youth Salvation taking part in the Los Angeles
community teenagers who are lost, hated, mistreated, or even suicidal will have a place where
they can find support, love, opportunities, and education. The mission of Youth Salvation is to
give neglected teenagers the knowledge and support that is denied to them by the Los Angeles

Garcia 7

School System and their families. We have to remember that the youth of today will take care of
us tomorrow. A bright future depends on how well the youth of today is raised. Lets create a
brighter future together with Youth Salvation. Forever young!

Garcia 8

Works Cited
Brainy Quote. Abdallah II of Jordan Quotes. (Year Published): Pages. Date Accessed <Web
address>.
Kinsey Institute, California state University. 10 Surprising sex statistics. When did you lose
your virginity? (2012): Pages. 31 October, 2015
<http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37853719/ns/health-sexual_health/t/surprising-sexstatistics/#.VjbnNmsYG3G>.
LA LBGT Center. About the organization. (2005): 30 October 2015 <
http://www.lalgbtcenter.org/>.
Kinsey Institute, California state University. 10 Surprising sex statistics. When did you lose
your virginity? (2012): Pages. 31 October, 2015
<http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37853719/ns/health-sexual_health/t/surprising-sexstatistics/#.VjbnNmsYG3G>.
Rodriguez, Luis J. Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. Willimantic, CT:
Curbstone ;, 1993. Print.