Native youth ages 12-19 spent six weeks engaging in cultural and educational activities as part of the Summer Youth Academy. The annual program, managed by Soboba Tribal TANF, provides participants with a variety of experiences.
The first two weeks emphasized Team Building as the 20+ young people got acquainted with each other and with the academy if they were newcomers. Leadership skills, how to dress for success and financial literacy were some of the covered topics during day-long sessions.
Another week offered a S.T.E.M. Activities Day and allowed the youth to practice Community Awareness. On July 3, they collaborated with Soboba Tribal Environmental Department staff to clean up a recreational area in Indian Canyon and take a nature walk to identify different bird species.
Environmental Administrative Assistant II Christine Rodriguez said the event went very well. “We cleaned up a majority of the litter from Four Corners,” she said. “We enticed them with gift cards for the two who collected the most.”
She said the bird walk was a lot of fun for all attendees. “I think the youth enjoyed just being outdoors the most,” Rodriguez said. “A few of them took interest in the various species found in the creek, including a small fish called the speckled dace.”
Offsite trips filled the week of July 8-11 as visits to the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum and Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park were taken. This turned out to be a favorite among many of the youth.
Health and Fitness were stressed during a full day at the beach on July 24. Several activities rounded out the final week, starting with making leather pouches through instruction from Tony Soares.
On July 29, the group spent the day at the Soboba Fire Department, learning all about the different functions it has. Fire Chief Glenn Patterson said the collaboration is a benefit for everyone.
“It gives our staff the opportunity to interact with community youth on a personal level and get a better understanding of the demographics of the customers we serve,” he said. “The youth get to see what our firefighters do on a daily basis and what they have to do to become a firefighter.”
Nancy Gallegos is the Transportation Coordinator for Soboba Tribal TANF and she said the morning was spent learning the purpose of all the equipment firefighters use, the function of all the things on each type of truck and touring the station. After a pizza lunch, they got to try their hand at using a fire hose, operating the aerial ladder and participating in a simulation scenario that gave them a taste of what it is like working in an area that is dark with smoke and what lifesaving equipment can help.
Agustin Salgado, 16, was there as a WE LEAD participant. The summer work program that is also managed by TANF, offers youth internships at different departments and Agustin has been working at the fire station. He said this is a career he might want to pursue, and he has enjoyed his time around the station, helping out where he could and helping to set up everything for the day’s SYA visit.
Before taking the youth up on Truck 1 to show them how to operate the 35-foot aerial ladder that can be extended to 100 feet, Fire Engineer Donald Beresford explained how the apparatus works and what it can do. He showed them how the outriggers are deployed to stabilize the truck before the ladder is moved or extended. He said constant communication is key in all aspects of their job.
“We practice every day, and we make sure all equipment is clean and presentable at all times,” he said.
Akwaalimay Resvaloso, a junior at San Jacinto High School, has enjoyed learning new things in the four years she has participated in the Summer Youth Academy. She said the team building activities have also helped her improve communication skills. At the fire station, she liked learning how to operate the controls to the ladder.
Amy Mendoza demonstrated how to use a fire hose, pointing out that a truck has the capacity to hold 500 gallons of water. The youth took turns trying the hose and learning the correct stance to offset its high pressure, how to aim it at specific targets and when to use the different sprays it produces.
“It’s always nice to provide ways to educate the youth and allow them to know the resources that are available in their community,” she said. “I also like being an example to show them there are all kinds of paths into a fire service career.”
Battalion Chief Howard Maxcy Jr. said having the SYA youth spend the day at the fire station makes them more receptive to learning more about what the department does.
“It’s always a good time when the group comes here,” he said. “The kids really want to be up to date and this is a great opportunity to share information with them.”
Firefighter Paramedic Blake Bryson was enthusiastic as he answered questions about the purpose and function of equipment that is used as they answer calls for everything from vegetation fires to medical aid.
“It’s always a great experience to have the community come out and see the capabilities of what we can do,” Fire Captain Jorge Partida said. “They get to see what we do, where we eat and sleep and just learn about the 24/7 nature of this industry. We are letting them get their hands on the equipment.”
On July 30, the youth spent the day with the Soboba Cultural Resource Department at their Cultural Garden, located at The Oaks, for a morning of hands-on learning, focused on food sovereignty and horticulture, rooted in tradition. Activities included harvesting and washing squash, as well as planting corn and onions. Participants were able to take home their harvested produce.
The second portion of the day-long event consisted of a traditional foods workshop, held at the MPR adjacent to the TANF program’s office. Cultural Resource Department staff facilitated a cultural presentation featuring native plants with an emphasis on the importance of incorporating native foods/traditional ingredients into a modern diet. Traditional foods have anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting effects that are known to reduce the risk of chronic diseases that plague tribal communities, including but not limited to: diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and heart failure.
During the workshop, Cultural Resource staff, including their two WE LEAD Summer Interns, Aimee Organ and Alayna Resvaloso Wood, demonstrated and guided participants in making three recipes, utilizing native plant ingredients – chia, agave, sunflower, and mesquite. In groups, using ingredients such as mesquite honey, agave syrup, and sunflower butter, they were able to make Chia Limeade, Chia Energy Bites, and Chia Strawberry Tarts.
Being able to provide for oneself, by growing your own food and through incorporation of traditional foods into one’s diet, promotes self-sustainability and is an expression of food sovereignty in itself. Thus, perpetuating the mission of Cultural Heritage Preservation, while securing the health and overall wellbeing of tribal members and communities for future generations.
The Cultural Resource Department staff said they were honored to spend the day with TANF Summer Youth Academy and are already looking forward to next year.
The final day of the Summer Youth Academy offered an activity with Cal State University, San Bernardino representatives, followed by an afternoon of crafts and a pool party.
This year’s academy offered all participants an opportunity to learn about new things or reinforce lessons and have fun while doing so. Rey Padilla, 16, said he enjoyed all the cultural activities offered as well as meeting new people.
Noah Nowaniiki, 14, has been part of the academy for more than three years and said it’s fun to learn many different things. He enjoyed going to the museum in Santa Barbara and is a freshman at San Jacinto High School this year.
Twelve-year-old No’aalawi Boniface is a first-year participant with SYA and she said a highlight was the field trip to Santa Barbara.
All Soboba Tribal TANF program youth were invited to a special back-to-school event on Aug. 10 where AT&T provided 150 laptops and backpacks to students and families. The Human-I-T team was thankful to the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians for their hospitality, warmth and dedication to the community that made the event truly special from start to finish.
Soboba Chairman Isaiah Vivanco opened the day with remarks and Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians Chairman Steven Estrada gave a blessing.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with AT&T to bring much-needed digital resources to our community, and others that are served through the TANF program,” Vivanco said. “We understand the importance of access to the digital world and this donation of laptops from AT&T will give our Tribal youth what they need to succeed in today’s digitally driven world. Being able to provide them with backpacks filled with back-to-school necessities, thanks to the generosity of AT&T, is an added level of support that we appreciate.”
Soboba Tribal TANF Program Executive Director Maria Aguirre-Mendoza also shared inspiring words after dedicating much time to the event’s planning process.
“I am deeply grateful that our TANF children were provided with laptops and backpacks by AT&T and Human-I-T,” Aguirre-Mendoza said. “It helps ensure they have the proper tools and resources they need to thrive in the upcoming academic year.”
The backpacks included school supplies, earbuds, charging cables and detailed instructions for setup and resources for any technical support the youth may need.
The Human-I-T team gave a special shoutout to Julio Figeroa, AT&T’s Director of External and Legislative Affairs and Tribal Liaison, for introducing them to the Tribe and making the partnership possible. This event was part of AT&T’s initiative to help address the digital divide through internet accessibility, affordability, and safe adoption.
Photos courtesy of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians
