Escondido Gang Prevention

This news coverage was to bring awareness of the collaborative efforts between the City of Escondido, COMPACT, the Police Athletic League (PAL) through the Escondido Police department, and other partners with regards to Gang Prevention efforts in the City of Escondido.

COMPACT has a mentoring program, Project Hero, among many other prevention and intervention programs in an effort to increase protective factors and help with gang prevention. If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved and volunteering for gang and/or other prevention efforts, then please select the “Join Our Team” button above and fill out our volunteer form; it takes a village!

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Channel 10 News

Project Hero Mentoring Makes a Difference

“In many communities throughout the country, there is a need for dedicated support and prevention strategies for youth who misuse substances. In response to this need, innovative programs have been organized, centered around helping youth to cope with the impact that substances have on themselves and their peers.

In Escondido, California, Alicia Espinoza coordinates a mentoring program funded by OJJDP that serves justice-involved youth and that places a significant emphasis on not only supporting youth to reduce recidivism, but also to overcome substance misuse. The program, called Project Hero, works closely with several groups of important stakeholders, including law enforcement.

The central mission of the program is simple—providing teens and young adults who had previously gotten into trouble with the law with strong mentorship in order to keep them out of the system and on the right path moving forward. The youth are referred to the program entirely by law enforcement, and in the past few years, there has been a 300% increase in the number of youth being referred to their Diversion program for marijuana-related issues. In order to effectively address the growing problem of marijuana use, Project Hero encourages maximum openness between mentor and mentee. For instance, the mentee should always be aware that they can reach out to their mentor in order to receive support if they are being pressured by peers to use drugs. Mentors can provide their insight on the best ways to say no while saving face within social groups, which tends to be a common problem for youth; they sometimes feel compelled to use drugs under those social pressures, according to Espinoza.”

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National Mentoring Resource Center

Escondido police get grant to fight gangs

Escondido Police received a nearly $1 million gang prevention grant from the Department of Justice to boost intelligence gathering and community policing, officials said.

The grant, called Innovations in Community-based Crime Reduction, provides $931,395 for gang prevention and crime suppression efforts in the east side of Escondido.

It pays salary, benefits and overtime expenses for two full-time criminal intelligence unit officers -- a supervisor and an analyst. And it will cover costs for a community organization, the Escondido Education COMPACT, to fund a family intervention team, community outreach coordinator, and pay part of two other positions.

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SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE

National Night Out promotes police-community relations

The Escondido Police Department and Escondido Education Compact hosted National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6 at the East Valley Community Center. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The evening brought out many community partners and resources for families and provided the opportunity for neighbors to spend an evening outdoors getting…

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TIMES-ADVOCATE

Faith Leaders Join Campaign To End Impaired Driving

More than 24  different Faith Centers rallied around Escondido Police Chief Craig Cater to urge the community not to drive intoxicated. These discussions started last September when EPD’s Chief of Police, Craig Carter, extended a personal invitation to all local faith leaders to join him in discussing ways they can collaboratively help offset some of our cities greatest needs and help our residents thrive. This organized approach has helped encourage more involvement from our faith groups and their followers to make meaningful, positive changes in Escondido. If you are you a Faith Community Leader with a heart to see this city transformed for the better, you are invited to join the group. For more information or to RSVP email mrodriguez@educationcompact.org.

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Times-Advocate  I  North County Daily Star   I   NBC San Diego

Local Youth Makes A Splash!

Arturo Velasco, a local COMPACT youth and advocate, has been published in The Coast News for his concern on the growing trend regarding the use of E-cigarettes and vapes among young students such as himself. Arturo Velasco currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Coalition for Drug Free Escondido and is a role model among his peers for taking a leadership role to advocate for community issues. Arturo, currently heading into his senior year at Del Lago Academy, has been actively involved with COMPACT and the Coalition since he was in middle school. 

As a drug free youth leader, Arturo has been trained on public speaking and media advocacy, and has spoken in front of the Escondido City Council on various occasions to be a voice for his community on matters that he is passionate about. Last year he was presented the proclamation declaring December as Drugged Driving Awareness Month in front of City Council. In a separate occasion he addressed City Council members as a part of a Resident Leadership Academy through COMPACT to raise awareness of a Community Improvement Project that he and other residents have taken on; adopting a portion of the creek to beautify it and make it more inviting for community members. Most recently, in February of this year, Arturo spoke on the modification of the City of Escondido’s Social Host Ordinance to include Cannabis. Arturo has and continues to be a great advocate and youth leader in his community. Please check out our programs page to see the many other great things that our youth are taking on and how to get involved!

Shinning Star Celebration 2018

On May 24th, COMPACT celebrated our youth and adults who have truly made a difference in the community. We also recognized and said farewell to our graduating seniors who are moving on to wonderful and exciting things after graduation. Our most special recognition was in honor of our crossing guard, Antonio (Tony) Guerra, who was injured while on the job ensuring that our young students made it safely to school. Tony's two children Rosa & Ramiro Guerra, were present to accept the award in honor of Tony and updated the community that he is recovering well.  

Local Escondido Woman Honored

On January 18th, the Escondido Education COMPACT Board Members honored longtime Board Member and COMPACT Founding Member Charlotte Hotchkiss for her service and commitment to COMPACT and Escondido youth. After 29 years of dedication to COMPACT and the community, Charlotte has resigned from the COMPACT Board of Directors. In recognition of her work for Escondido youth, Christi Knight presented Charlotte with a proclamation by the County Board of Supervisors declaring January 18th as Charlotte Hotchkiss Day. This honor is well-deserved for Charlotte, she has invested much of her time and energy to making sure Escondido youth were given opportunities to succeed and contribute to their community.

Charlotte has an extensive track record for helping out her community. In addition to her commitment with COMPACT, Charlotte has been served as a former trustee for the Escondido Union High School District and as a treasurer and member for the Escondido Rotary Club.

Escondido Education COMPACT Hosts Bike to School Event

“May is National Bike to School Month, and Orange Glen Elementary School in Escondido celebrated with a school-wide bike ride, with help from Escondido Education COMPACT. Mr. Ausby, the principal, led parents and students on the ride, starting from a nearby Vons parking lot to Orange Glen Elementary, a distance of little more than a half mile. Students and parents gathered at 7 am at the Vons to receive their Bike to School Day stickers and bike pins. After checking bikes and helmets, the students were ready to ride to school. The school’s physical education teacher was there to help guide families safely to their destination. The schools’ family liaison, with the support of Escondido Education COMPACT’s Safe Routes to School coordinator, organized the event and Escondido Education COMPACT donated bikes and helmets to be raffled off to students. The intent of the bike ride was to encourage families to stay active by riding their bikes and scooters to school”

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Source: Live Well San Diego