The San Benito County probation department hosted a graduation
ceremony Sept. 23 at Mars Hill Coffehouse for 14 youth who have
completed their juvenile work service projects.
The San Benito County probation department hosted a graduation ceremony Sept. 23 at Mars Hill Coffehouse for 14 youth who have completed their juvenile work service projects.
“We are trying to build connections to the community,” said Al De Vos, the gang prevention coordinator for San Benito County. “Part of that is creating community service options where they get recognition.”
Community service has long been a component of some students’ probation, but in the past the opportunities had been limited at Juvenile Hall to projects such as washing cars or other chores around the site.
When the department received a Cal grant award last December, De Vos said it wanted to add a new dimension to the program.
“These are youth who do some minor things and may be ordered to do community service,” De Vos said. “Rather than making it purely punitive, we wanted to make it positive.”
De Vos partnered with the First Presbyterian Church and Mars Hill Coffeehouse to find community service projects for the students.
“Peter and I brainstormed,” De Vos said. “We wanted to find places in the community where they could be doing things and get recognition.”
They also looked at connecting with Ag Against Hunger, an organization that collects leftover produce from local fields for food banks, but De Vos said they didn’t have any dates set up in San Benito County. He said he is hoping to coordinate with them in the future.
“Every time you ask teens to work, it’s difficult,” Prak said. “But we had one rule – no complaining.”
For the full story, see the Pinnacle on Friday.
