This fall, while taking a Sociology class that focused on
social problems, I learned about and began volunteering at the Pico Youth and
Family Center (PYFC), and I am extremely grateful that I did.
The PYFC is a nonprofit organization located in the City of
Santa Monica. This center came about as a result of a movement that arose in
the Pico Neighborhood in 1998 to combat the increase of youth violence in the
community. The community organized a 1,000 people march called The Vigil for Peace, which has been the
largest demonstration for peace in the City’s history. Members of the community
also organized actions at City Hall that resulted in the City of Santa Monica
funding youth development efforts. The PYFC opened its doors in February of
2002. They serve youth between the ages of 16 to 24 and, although youth from
all backgrounds are welcome at the center, about 10% are African American and
76% are Latino—this can be explained by the historical concentration of
low-income minority groups in the Pico Neighborhood in Santa Monica. The
mission of the PYFC is: “To equip disenfranchised youth and their families with
the leadership skills needed to strengthen and sustain the community in which
they live. To promote peace, unity, and
social justice by modeling cooperation and advancing educational and
economic opportunity. Through creative programs we will work to instill hope in
our youth by engaging them in creating solutions to our community’s problems.”
The PYFC provides services such as tutoring, job development, case management,
music programs, leadership councils, and they have groups in which they discuss
gender specific issues.
The PYFC houses the City's first-ever public recording studio. |
This photo was taken by one of the youth from the PYFC, Marcus T. |
This photo was taken by one of the youth from the PYFC, Marcus T. |
The founder and Executive Director of the PYFC is Oscar
de la Torre, a lifelong resident of the Pico Neighborhood. In an educational
flyer about the center, it is stated: “Oscar founded the PYFC with the belief
that youth violence is a product of various social and economic factors that
contribute to feelings of inferiority, powerlessness and hopelessness. His hope
is that the PYFC provides quality services to youth and simultaneously works to
develop the leadership capacity of low-income communities so that the solutions
of the people become institutionalized.”
The PYFC is currently in danger of being defunded and
ultimately being shut down by the City of Santa Monica. This began as an attack
on Oscar in an attempt to force him to resign his position as Executive
Director—without providing any reasoning—by December 1, 2012 and appoint a city
official to take his place without the staff or community having any say in the
matter. A city consultant also criticized the PYFC for having posters of
Malcolm X and César Chávez on the walls, and recommended that social justice be
removed from the organization’s mission statement.
I also want to point out
that in October 2012, the PYFC inherited $1.6 million dollars that
philanthropist Peggy Bergmann donated to the center in her will. That check is
being withheld from the PYFC and it is currently unclear what will be done with
it. A City Town Hall meeting was to be held on December 11, 2012 where the city
was to decide whether to defund the PYFC. The youth started a petition to gain
support to keep Oscar as ED and social justice in the mission statement, and a
rally to the meeting was being organized. This response did not go over well
and the City abruptly removed the PYFC from the agenda a few days prior to the
meeting and without announcing when it would be rescheduled.
A few days ago, the city informed the PYFC that their slot
in the agenda has been rescheduled to Tuesday (1/8/13). We are urgently trying
to reorganize a rally to the City Town Hall meeting to support the PYFC. We
will meet at the Pico Youth and Family Center (715 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica
90405) at 4:30 p.m. and march to the City Hall (1685 Main St., SM 90401) where
the meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Please come—dressed in black—and support an
organization that implements grassroots movements to bring awareness and
advocacy to issues that affect our communities. This is an organization created
by the people, for the people, and in the image of our people and it is being
targeted because of that. The PYFC is not only fighting to end youth violence,
it is also combating institutional racism, poverty, and the lack of resources
and services provided to minority communities. These issues are all
interconnected and should be issues that we can all come together to stand up
against. Please come show support and spread the word! I hope to see you all
there. Believe WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
Written by Nury C.
FRESH!Great visual rhetoric here... my son benefited, gained employment this year thru Oscar and PYFC's staff and community, amazing mentorship from Selina, Oscar, Alex, Angel, NAtalie and Mathias... my son looked up to all of them. PYFC has HUNDREDS OF SUCCESS STORIES... where was that in those malicious reports!? REad my letter to editor today: http://www.smdp.com/letter-defending-pyfc/116285
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