SOUTH GATE — It started with three longtime classmates who were looking for something to do and the mother of one of them who thought she might as well add community service to social activities of the teenagers.

Leticia Fernandez, a 30-year resident of South Gate, established South Gate ROCKS, which stands for Recognizing Our Kids and Students in fall 2007 with help from her daughter, Samantha Garza, and Samantha’s longtime friends, Roxanna Chavez and Cindy Gastelum. All three are 17 and seniors at South Gate High School.

Last January they added the Youth Team, composed of about 100 students at South Gate High School. It meets during lunch each Thursday at the school.
The Youth Team is dedicated to serve our school, community and country, Fernandez said.

Its stated mission is “To enrich, empower and educate our youth.”

The Youth Team, led by Fernandez and the three girls, have been active at numerous civic events, helping out however they can.

It includes the National Night Out program by the South Gate Police Department Aug. 4, a senior fair sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Cerritos, on Aug. 13; events on the Tweedy Mile Business District including a cleanup of the street May 30 and some 15 cleanups at South Gate Park resulting in 91 bags of trash being collected, Fernandez said.

The team also has been active with other organizations at their events, such as Teen Challenger, the Los Angeles Food Bank and the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival.

“I want to help people who need help and to do something to keep us off the streets,” said Gastelum. Chavez and Garza expressed similar sentiments.

“There was a need for volunteers and teen activities in the community including workshops and programs,” Fernandez said.

They found support from her husband, John, who is employed at an engineering firm; and from American Legion Post No. 335, which hosts Sunday breakfasts and programs on Americanism at the “After-School Blast” from 4 to 6 p.m. each Wednesday at the post’s headquarters, 9535 California Ave.

Legion supporters and sponsors are headed by Mike Perry and Julian Duron.

“We want to instill patriotism. It’s important that we show respect to the country we are growing up in,” Fernandez said.

The American Legion also hosted the group’s first formal installation of officers and awards night Sept. 11.

Chavez, Garza and Michelle Juarez were installed as directors while Edgar Barron and Arely Garcia were named event chairmen, Karla Davalos and Maria Rios were named publicity chairs and Gastelum and Gabriela Rueda were put in charge of membership.

A treasurer is sought to handle money from planned fundraisers including what Fernandez called a “well-chaperoned” sleepover in the South Gate Auditorium Oct. 23 and a show by Pepe Serna Nov. 14 at the auditorium.

Other fundraisers in the coming year include a battle of the bands composed of local talent at South Gate High School and a fashion show at next spring’s Azalea Festival, Fernandez said.

“We would appreciate any [financial] help we can get from the community. It’s tax-deductible,” said Fernandez, noting that the group is considered a nonprofit group by the state.

Future goals are to expand the group to South East High School and eventually have a youth center, for activities after school, Fernandez said. She and her husband are also parents of Katherine, 6.

Also being considered is reaching out to middle school students, possibly with a tutoring program, and for new members to replace graduating seniors such as Gastelum, Garza and Chavez.

All plan to go to college, but vow to help with South Gate ROCKS on vacations and during the summer. Gastelum would like to be a pediatrician while Garza is eyeing a career in journalism and Chavez plans to become a teacher.

Despite their activities with the group, all three sport grade point averages of 3.5 (B-plus) or better.

Membership on the Youth Team costs $15, to pay for a T-shirt and medallion.
Fernandez is executive director of South Gate ROCKS. Adult board members include John Fernandez, Rosalba Cambell, Deborah Canosa, Jose Canosa, Abraham Estrada and Jana Martinez.

Additional sponsors and supporters include South Gate Police Chief Vincent Avila, Parks and Recreation Director Paul Adams, Nick Garife and Alberto Bello of Teen Challenge, the South Gate Woman’s Club and the city-appointed South Gate Youth Commission, plus a number of businesses, Fernandez said.

Information: (323) 563-3963 or www.southgaterocks.org.