Carlsbad's Gangbusters Aims To Keep Kids Off Streets

Written by Alexandra Deluca for the North County Times
February 11, 2007

When Jessica, a 16-year-old from Carlsbad, was referred to the Gangbusters program at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad last October, she was not looking forward to participating. "I thought it was going to be wack," she said last week.

However, months after completing the program, Jessica still comes to the Club on Roosevelt Street several times a week to participate in career-planning programs, take salsa dancing lessons and occasionally go on Friday night outings organized by the Club.

"It can be pretty cool," said Jessica. It definitely does help you stay out of trouble. It gives you something to do aside from being out in the streets."

Keeping kids off the streets and out of trouble is the goal of Gangbusters, a Boys & Girls Club program that began at the Oceanside club in 1995. The program is now offered throughout San Diego, all in North County: Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad has offered the Gangbusters program at its Village Branch for just over two years. Carlsbad's Gangbusters program is primarily funded by the Callaway Golf Company Foundation, which also supports the Gangbusters programs at the other three Boys & Girls Club locations.

Ernesto Sanchez, the teen director of the Carlsbad Village branch of the Club, coordinates the Gangbusters program at that location. He said the program is geared toward 11 to 18 year olds who are considered at risk of joining a gang, although not all of the children are involved in gangs. In most cases, children are referred to Gangbusters through the court, parole officers or police after being convicted of gang-related crimes such as vandalism or assault.

The program is one way that children can choose to complete their community service requirement. In a few cases, children have been referred to the program by concerned parents and teachers. "It's a last resort," said Sanchez. "It's a wake-up call."

Children throughout San Diego County can choose to participate in Gangbusters at any of the four Boys & Girls Clubs that offer the program. Sanchez said the 20 or so youths in Carlsbad's program are not only from Carlsbad but from throughout North County, and that past participants have come from as far south as Grossmont.

Sanchez said Carlsbad's Gangbusters program is tailored to each individual based on their age, what (if any) crime they have committed and how many hours of community service they have been assigned. Generally, participants are counseled individually on anger management and decision-making; and meet with a licensed counselor once a week.

Participants are required to become members of the Boys & Girls Club, which entitles them to use the facility and participate in all activities offered at the Club while they are enrolled in and after they have completed the Gangbusters program. An annual membership costs $25, although financial aid is available.

Sanchez said that in some cases, Gangbusters participants may get credit for community service by participating in other programs offered at the Club, such as Job Ready, a job-preparedness program, or Torch Club, a leadership development program.

Sanchez said Jessica's initial skepticism about Gangbusters is typical of most participants when they first begin the program. However, many of them put their guard down after they meet Sanchez. "I'm only 23, so I can relate to a lot of the kids," said Sanchez, who has worked at the Carlsbad Village Club for almost five years. "Sometimes it's hard for some of these kids to relate to teachers and authority figures. I talk to them on their level."

Sanchez said he keeps the focus on the future rather than the past when counseling participants. "I don't judge them at all on what they've done," said Sanchez. "I encourage them to make better decisions."

As Sanchez gets to know each of the Gangbusters participants, he tries to involve them in activities at the Club that appeal to their interests and ultimately, give them an outlet outside of gangs. Sanchez estimates that out of the 60 or so youths who have participated in Carlsbad's Gangbusters program since its inception in late 2004, only 8-20 of them have gotten into trouble again since completing the program. Sanchez says he keeps in touch with many of the Gangbusters participants. "Once they finish the program, I'll give them a call once in a while and invite them to do things," said Sanchez, who organizes outings for club members every Friday night, such as trips to the movies or bowling.

Sanchez said that, like Jessica, many Gangbusters participants continue to come to the Club after they have completed the program, and some even renew their membership. Other past participants still stop by the Club to see Sanchez, or call or email him to update him ont heir lives.

Sanchez said some participants have even invited him to their high school graduations. "I've been lucky to get to some of them," said Sanchez. "It's nice to know that at some point, I made some kind of impact. It is gratifying."