Heal the community was started as a grass roots movement back in the end of May 2009. We had just learned about the tragic death of 16 year old, Seth Scarminach, which was gang related. The following days we saw our children traumatized in the aftermath. Our high school went from a peaceful campus with an SRO (school resource officer) to the banning of all colors of the rainbow except yellow, orange, green and pink to unsubstantiated rumors of a local street gang possibly shooting any white kids wearing red...a white power symbol.
All of this happened in a short 6 day period while we had also lost our high school SRO due to a contract dispute between the OUSD board and the City of Ojai. If the SRO would have been on campus at the beginning of that week thru that Friday she might have been able to squelch these rumors and the racial tensions on campus. Also, we would not have needed the large amount of Sheriff’s and California Highway Patrol that showed up at the school that Friday to protect our kids on campus.
That Monday a lot of concerned parents showed up at the Nordhoff Parents Association meeting to get information on what was happening in our school. There were mistakes made and apologies were given. The Sheriffs dept. was on hand to assure parents that their kids were safe on campus. But what about off campus? We got limited information; we were still concerned about the SRO not being on campus full time. She was only called in because of the emergency that arose, temporarily. We were advised that the SRO would be on the agenda Tuesday at the OUSD board meeting. We all went in support of keeping the SRO and were met with disrespect and utter annoyance by the OUSD Board who stated because of the “Brown Act” we could give our opinions on the SRO, but they were not obligated to answer any of our questions. There was no accountability what-so-ever.
The “packed to the rafters” board room became outraged at the boards harsh indifference. As we left the board room, Bill Welch had a note pad for people to sign if they wanted to support the SRO and get some questions answered by our elected officials. That night Bill Welch, Cindy Sauceda and Dusty Fernandez decided to get involved to help save our SRO. What was our next step? Get organized and go to the City Council meeting and plead for a contract to be negotiated for the SRO.
In doing a massive amount of research we realized we had not only and SRO issue but a serious gang problem. We all went to the City Council meeting that next Tuesday. 17 concerned parents spoke on behalf of the positive impact of the SRO and asked the council to please come to an agreement with OUSD, put the gang issues on the agenda for a future City Council meeting and announce we wanted hold a town hall meeting about the gang problems we face as a valley.
The Mayor thanked us for our input. He also stating that it was a rare occurrence that so many people could come together for a cause and have it done in such a fashion that is would be to the point and expedient. We succeeded in keeping our SRO at least for the rest of the school year. No word on if we will have an SRO for the 09‘-10’ school year.
With that accomplished we focused all our efforts on what were our gang problems. There were many. We formed a small committee from that City Council meeting, calling ourselves “Heal the Community”, in order to organize a town hall meeting. After a few short weeks we had spent hundreds of hours putting together a much needed town hall meeting, to provide a public forum to discuss the gang issues as a community. Little did we know how much work was involved and how much the community had been affected by the recent tragedy.
We held our first Town Hall Meeting on June 18, 2009 with great success. The auditorium of Matilija Jr. High School was over flowing with over 300 people. There were even individuals crowding every entrance and sitting outside. We would like to express our thanks to all of you that came out that evening. Because of you we took so much away that evening. We heard your frustration, we feel your pain, and we are wanting to bring some solution.
We held our second Town Hall Meeting on August 18, 2009 and was greeted with over 100 residents. Our purpose for this meeting was not have any more talking but doing something! We announced our plan to hold our "Mentor Madness Poker Run/ Car & Motorcycle Show" on November 7, 2009. This was to be a very positive and constructive meeting!
We want to thank everyone that was a part of our panel for both meetings...Pastor Paul Burgmann of OVCC; Sgt. Joe Evans, Ventura County deputy sheriff; Sgt. Bill Schierman of the Major Crimes Unit for the Sheriff’s Department; Ventura County Sheriff Capt. Chris Dunn; Jason Griffith of Segue Career Path Mentors, Barbara Kennedy of the Oak View Park and Resource Center, and Jim Lane, a retired Port Hueneme teacher and mentor; Joe Jaramillo of Bikers for Christ; along with the representatives from Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and the Substance Abuse Free Environment Coalition.
It takes organization and perseverance to maneuver through the political waters of such a task. We remind ourselves daily of the cause we are promoting. We all love the Ojai Valley, it is our home, it is where we have chosen to raise our families and one day retire and enjoy more Pink Moments.
All of this happened in a short 6 day period while we had also lost our high school SRO due to a contract dispute between the OUSD board and the City of Ojai. If the SRO would have been on campus at the beginning of that week thru that Friday she might have been able to squelch these rumors and the racial tensions on campus. Also, we would not have needed the large amount of Sheriff’s and California Highway Patrol that showed up at the school that Friday to protect our kids on campus.
That Monday a lot of concerned parents showed up at the Nordhoff Parents Association meeting to get information on what was happening in our school. There were mistakes made and apologies were given. The Sheriffs dept. was on hand to assure parents that their kids were safe on campus. But what about off campus? We got limited information; we were still concerned about the SRO not being on campus full time. She was only called in because of the emergency that arose, temporarily. We were advised that the SRO would be on the agenda Tuesday at the OUSD board meeting. We all went in support of keeping the SRO and were met with disrespect and utter annoyance by the OUSD Board who stated because of the “Brown Act” we could give our opinions on the SRO, but they were not obligated to answer any of our questions. There was no accountability what-so-ever.
The “packed to the rafters” board room became outraged at the boards harsh indifference. As we left the board room, Bill Welch had a note pad for people to sign if they wanted to support the SRO and get some questions answered by our elected officials. That night Bill Welch, Cindy Sauceda and Dusty Fernandez decided to get involved to help save our SRO. What was our next step? Get organized and go to the City Council meeting and plead for a contract to be negotiated for the SRO.
In doing a massive amount of research we realized we had not only and SRO issue but a serious gang problem. We all went to the City Council meeting that next Tuesday. 17 concerned parents spoke on behalf of the positive impact of the SRO and asked the council to please come to an agreement with OUSD, put the gang issues on the agenda for a future City Council meeting and announce we wanted hold a town hall meeting about the gang problems we face as a valley.
The Mayor thanked us for our input. He also stating that it was a rare occurrence that so many people could come together for a cause and have it done in such a fashion that is would be to the point and expedient. We succeeded in keeping our SRO at least for the rest of the school year. No word on if we will have an SRO for the 09‘-10’ school year.
With that accomplished we focused all our efforts on what were our gang problems. There were many. We formed a small committee from that City Council meeting, calling ourselves “Heal the Community”, in order to organize a town hall meeting. After a few short weeks we had spent hundreds of hours putting together a much needed town hall meeting, to provide a public forum to discuss the gang issues as a community. Little did we know how much work was involved and how much the community had been affected by the recent tragedy.
We held our first Town Hall Meeting on June 18, 2009 with great success. The auditorium of Matilija Jr. High School was over flowing with over 300 people. There were even individuals crowding every entrance and sitting outside. We would like to express our thanks to all of you that came out that evening. Because of you we took so much away that evening. We heard your frustration, we feel your pain, and we are wanting to bring some solution.
We held our second Town Hall Meeting on August 18, 2009 and was greeted with over 100 residents. Our purpose for this meeting was not have any more talking but doing something! We announced our plan to hold our "Mentor Madness Poker Run/ Car & Motorcycle Show" on November 7, 2009. This was to be a very positive and constructive meeting!
We want to thank everyone that was a part of our panel for both meetings...Pastor Paul Burgmann of OVCC; Sgt. Joe Evans, Ventura County deputy sheriff; Sgt. Bill Schierman of the Major Crimes Unit for the Sheriff’s Department; Ventura County Sheriff Capt. Chris Dunn; Jason Griffith of Segue Career Path Mentors, Barbara Kennedy of the Oak View Park and Resource Center, and Jim Lane, a retired Port Hueneme teacher and mentor; Joe Jaramillo of Bikers for Christ; along with the representatives from Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and the Substance Abuse Free Environment Coalition.
It takes organization and perseverance to maneuver through the political waters of such a task. We remind ourselves daily of the cause we are promoting. We all love the Ojai Valley, it is our home, it is where we have chosen to raise our families and one day retire and enjoy more Pink Moments.