northwest echo story project

Police Activities League (PAL)

A Safe Place to Have Fun

Boys are playing basketball in one room, other kids are playing pool, and still other boys and girls are anxiously waiting for the computer lab to open. In a cooking class, kids are mixing batter to make muffins. All these activities have one common thread: they are part of the summer program of the Police Activities League (PAL).

Police officers frequently drop in to play games with the kids, but most of the activities are run by the youth advisors who range in age from 18-24. “Their job is not only to run the program, but to interact with the kids and to mentor them as well,” said Officer Louie Luevano, PAL’s program director.

Having a mentor is important for Stephanie Juarez, a junior at Pasadena High School. “The youth advisors are fun to talk to. They are always there for us when we need them,” Juarez said.

Lead youth advisor Tracii Smith, now a sophomore at Pasadena City College, is proof of the positive effect PAL has on youth. When younger, she played on the PAL basketball and softball teams and was paired with a mentor, whose guidance helped her make better life choices.

“My mentor would meet me at my school and show me how my attitude and the path I was on was leading me in the wrong direction,” Smith said.

PAL is a year-round program that is run by the police departments of various cities nationwide. The very first PAL began in New York City in the 1930s. Pasadena’s PAL was started in 1997. In the Pasadena program, youth are offered a wide range of activities. There are classes in art, jewelry-making, gymnastics, and photography, to name a few. Kids can also learn leadership skills by participating on a youth council.

During the summer, there are various field trips to Dodger and Angel games, Knott’s Berry Farm, and the beach. At the end of the program, a camping trip includes a visit to Hearst Castle in San Simeon.

The trips and all PAL activities are free to youth who are PAL members. Membership is open to Pasadena residents between the ages of 9-16, and there is an annual fee of $20. PAL will also provide free sports equipment if a child needs it.

Officer Luevano, who has been with the program for more than two years, has benefited from his experience. “It allows me to be more connected with the kids and the community,” he said.

The summer program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and PAL members are provided with breakfast and lunch. On average, 100 children participate. Some youth only come for a few hours twice a week, while others are at the program all day, everyday.

In addition to the summer program, PAL offers an after-school program during the school year. The youth advisors pick PAL members up from various PUSD schools and bring them to the Center. Tutoring is available, and the computer room is used for homework rather than pleasure. Students are required to spend 30 minutes reading silently.

PAL rewards students for academic excellence. They hold a contest where kids turn in their grades, and the PAL member with the highest GPA wins either an iPod or a Playstation. Students can also attend conferences such as “Life After High School” in Fresno that deals with college preparation and a California PAL-sponsored event called “Sacramento Experience” to visit the state capitol. There, the kids meet with legislators about youth-related concerns and attend personal development workshops. Many Pasadena PAL students have never been away from home before. Traveling by airplane and staying in a hotel are new experiences for them. The entire event provides a memorable and life-changing opportunity.

Ronisha Pinkey, an eighth grader at Elliot Middle School, explains why kids enjoy their time at PAL. “PAL lets me have fun in a safe place. It gets your mind focused on something good.”

Click here to see Pasadena PAL video - Strengthening the Bond Between Kids and Cops.

Photos: Brian Biery (upper right) / Others courtesy of PAL