Long Beach Press-Telegram (CA)

December 14, 2002
Section: LOCAL NEWS
Edition: AM
Page: A2

YOUTHS FEEL IMPACT OF PROGRAM
L.B.: TEENS GRADUATE FROM CLASS THAT TURNS AROUND THEIR LIVES, TEACHES THEM ABOUT COMMUNITY.
Karen Robes
Staff writer

Karrie Ann Demouchet beamed when her daughter Jessinia Coleman graduated Thursday from the Signal Hill Youth Impact Program.

For years, Demouchet watched in frustration as teachers passed her daughter from class to class, unable to deal with her learning problems.

Coleman, 18, who was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, came to the program after leaving Lakewood High School with 23 credits and no hope of graduating. Now, Coleman plans to pursue goals in higher education and work with her classmates for the betterment of Long Beach -- a turnaround her mother credits to the program.

``It's a great gateway for children who felt they had no hope,'' Demouchet said. ``Most of these kids were considered throwaway kids.

``These teachers took the time to help her and make her who she is today, a person who's learned respect and dignity, who has self-esteem and direction in life.''

Thursday not only marked a milestone for these students, but it solidified the success of a pilot program. Youth Impact meets twice a week and is designed to teach students about the function of a community.

The cornerstone of the class' learning was the interviewing process. Students were bused to different locations, unaware of where they were going or who they would meet.

Their objective was to find out as much as they could about a subject and figure out how that individual fits into the Long Beach community. Interview subjects ranged from hockey players to police officers.

``It's an incredible power, coming together as a group to ask questions,'' said John Hall, who started Youth Impact. ``It's about thinking and observation. They're here to find themselves and figure out how they fit in the community.''