Youth Speak Their Minds on The Capitol Steps [Sacramento, CA]

On the West steps of the State Capitol on Monday, April 10 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 250 youth from all over the state will address the issues that affect them as teens living in California’s inner cities or rural areas during California PAL’s 7th Annual Sacramento Experience Leadership Conference.

During the rally, Evelyn Gonzales, a senior at San Jacinto High School, will discuss the pros and cons of Governor Schwartzenegger’s latest television commercial, which claims that the Governor wants immigration reform. Evelyn knows about this issue firsthand; members of her family would benefit from the guest worker program supported by Governor Schwartzenegger.

Katryna Shattuck, a 16-year-old PAL youth from Berkeley, will deliver to the Governor the California PAL proposal for Proposition 49 money funding for the 135 Police Activities Leagues in California. California PAL was one of the original sponsors of Proposition 49 based on strong evidence that after-school programs decrease juvenile crime. Over 87 Police Chiefs supported the Proposition for this same reason. Katryna believes that law-enforcement after-school programs should be included in Proposition 49 funding.

At 12:15 pm, the youth and their Law Enforcement Staff will march from the West Steps to the Police Memorial to honor one of our own: Officer Richard May, who was murdered on January 7th, 2006, on duty for the East Palo Alto Police Department. Officer May was the Director for Lompoc PAL for two years (2001-2003) and each year he would bring youth to the Sacramento Experience. His family will be joining us for this memorial in his honor.

Every year, California PAL hosts youth from Police Activities Leagues throughout the state to attend the Sacramento Experience. Youth will get an opportunity to hear comedian and motivational speaker Michael Pritchard talk about self-esteem and conflict resolution, attend leadership training workshops, and visit their respective legislators. Over 100 PAL Police Officers, Chiefs and Administrators of Police Departments from cities all over California will attend the event.

For additional information, please use California PAL Contact listed above.