Mr. Oscar de la Torre is currently the founder and director of the Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC) in Santa Monica. Prior to founding the PYFC, Mr. de la Torre worked at Santa Monica High as an Outreach Specialist where he implemented tutoring programs, a leadership academy and violence prevention initiatives.
A lifelong resident of the Pico Neighborhood, 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. Oscar completed his Masters degree in Public Administration at the University of Texas at Austin.
Yolanda has been involved with the PYFC since its opening. Yolanda is a native of Venice.She has two sons, Daniel 28 years old and Erik 15 years of age. As a parent,Yolanda knows first hand the programs and services that our youth need. Since 1998, Yolanda has been a part of building the foundation of the PYFC. Yolanda is finishing a degree in Sociology and plans to complete her MSW in Social Work.Yolanda's passion is working with the youth. She is a community advocate, Parent Educator, and a mentor for young women. Yolanda has been instrumental in keeping our doors open by writing grants and building relationships with the City Government and partnering agencies such as Santa Monica High School, Olympic High School and Virginia Ave Park. Yolanda implemented the "Girls Empowerment Group" in 2004 that successfully paved ways for the young women to pursue their leadership, academic, and personal goals.
She is a mentor to young women and works on sustaining their work by participating in civic engagements.Yolanda has been a part of the many lives of young women who have developed leadership skills through the PYFC, attained their college education and continue to give back to their community by returning to volunteer their time at PYFC.
"If you want peace you must work for social justice."
Ms. Selina Rodriguez is the Program Director of the Pico Youth & Family Center (PYFC).Ý She is born and raised in Tucson and moved to the City of Angels to receive her Master's Degree in Urban Planning from UCLA.ÝÝ While at UCLA, Selina served as Co-Director of the student group, Planners of Color for Social Equity (PCSE) and worked as the General Graduate Mentor for the Academic Advancement Program.Ý In these positions, Selina outreached to first-generation, low-income students and provided one-on-one counseling and assisting students in the process of preparing for, selecting, and applying to graduate and professional programs.
Prior to attending UCLA, Selina attended the University of Arizona, where she majored in Sociology and minored in Mexican AmericanÝ Studies.ÝÝ She is a proud alum of TUSD's Mexican American/Raza Studies where she took her first class at Cholla High School and later worked throughout her undergraduate years for the Department as the Academic and Community Specialist.Ý During these positions, Selina served as a mentor returning back to the schools she once attended.Ý
While her journey in Los Angeles, Selina has been able to explore various youth community development initiatives. She enjoys the diversity and excitement of Los Angeles.Ý Selina's professional goal is to work with youth in the realms of economic development, education attainment and empowerment opportunities.
Gail Gutierrez bio here...
BIO:
Angel Villasenor is the Pico Youth and Family Center's new Case-Manager. Angel was born and raised in the city of Santa Monica, attended Santa Monica Schools and then went on to the University of California, Santa Cruz where he graduated with a combined Sociology/Latin American and Latino Studies Degree. Angel can certainly identify with the needs in our community especially when advocating for the youth and the needs that they have. Angel was a former Community Service Program Specialist at Santa Monica's Virginia Avenue Park and also worked as a Student Program Coordinator / Community Liaison for the Chicano/Latino Resource Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Angel has a passion for community and cultural services and through his experiences has committed himself to serving at-risk youth in our community. He brings a wealth of experience and passion in serving vulnerable youth populations and is keen on ensuring youth and young adults between the ages of 16 to 24 receive support and guidance in meeting career and education goals.
Alex Aldana, product of the Pico Neighborhood serves as PYFC's Event Coordinator and Hip-Hop Consultant.Ý His relationship with PYFC with his involvement in the Youth Leadership Council and coordinating various poetry slams and mentoring programs back in 2002 when the center opened.
Since then, Alex continues to enjoy working with the PYFC community and supporting the youth.Ý In 2006, Alex and a collective group founded the One Nation Hip Hop Summit, which is now in its 4th year of existence (www.onenationhiphop.org).ÝÝ Mr. Alex Aldana's life long goal would be to open up his own cultural and art center in the most needed areas of Los Angeles.
Nick Weiss bio coming soon.... :-)
email:Nick Weiss@picoyouth.org
Tommie Baines, a young black male who recently migrated from the Sin City/Las Vegas to California is a music producer, singer, writer, rapper, and dancer.Ý He attended Tuskege University where he sang for the famous 100 Voice Choir.Ý Aside from the musical talents, he is also an aspiring chef, working as a line cook at one of the Wolfgang Pucks restaurants Chinois in Santa Monica.Ý He is a great role model and example of a young man who has been through many struggles and was able to overcome them.