Reporting For Duty in East Los Angeles

March 9, 2014

Stevenson Middle School lies in the heart of East Los Angeles in a neighborhood where many children find it difficult to make it safely to and from school.  The school’s student body is 99 percent Latino, most of whom come from an economically disadvantaged background.  Gangs actively recruit young people in the area, adding complexity to an already challenging educational environment.  But Principal Leo Gonzalez, himself a native of East L.A., does not let these challenges deter him and his staff from their jobs.

“I grew up just down the street from Stevenson, and many of the other teachers grew up in this community,” says Principal Gonzalez.  “We have a special relatability to these students and know the challenges they face.  Our primary goal is to make the connection and lead them to colleges and careers.”

In fact, Principal Gonzalez and his team, thanks to the effort of the Partnership for L.A. Schools and other supporters like the Wasserman Foundation, are achieving educational results for their students that in many ways exceed other schools in Los Angeles Unified School District.  However, due to its urban location and large student body, Stevenson has a shortage of play space for its kids.

So when 1^st Platoon Los Angeles was recently introduced to Principal Gonzalez and the team at the Partnership for L.A. Schools, they jumped at the opportunity to put together a project that would serve the nearly 2,000 students who call Stevenson home.

The Los Angeles 1^st Service Platoon launched in 2013 with a small handful of veterans who chose to focus on serving the youth and educational institutions in L.A.   Their first service projects brought together a small but mighty team of dedicated volunteers whose work made an impact on several educational organizations in Los Angeles like the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center. 

Now more than a year into its operations, the platoon counts more than 100 members on its roster.  After meeting Principal Gonzalez and the kids of Stevenson several months ago, Platoon Leader Kristina Catuiza and her team were ready to take on their largest project to-date.  “This is our chance to really make a difference in the East Los Angeles area,” says Kristina.

Principal Gonzalez had a vision that a green space overrun with building material and clutter could be used for recreation by his students, with an area set aside for gardening projects by children in the special needs program.  “We like to think outside the box here at Stevenson.  This outdoor recreation area is unique. It draws these middle schoolers in and engages them – and that goes a long way with these kids,” says Principal Gonzalez.

After months of planning, coordination, and building local support, 1^st Platoon L.A. tackled the project head-on.  On February 27 & 28, platoon members and volunteers showed up in droves to demolish concrete walls, remove an old fence, and build the first installment in a robust outdoor learning and play area at Stevenson.

Over the course of two days, more than 60 volunteers completely transformed the middle school grounds. When the dust settled and the tools were all put away, thousands of pounds of concrete had been removed and an outdoor classroom was built in its place.  Brand new garden boxes and chessboard benches now sat where mini golf pads once lay abandoned.  And a community of children, families, and educators felt the impact of a team of veterans and supporters coming together to serve the youth of Los Angeles.

The project also showcased the growing collaboration between The Mission Continues and other partner organizations in Los Angeles, and between veterans and non-veterans alike.  The project would not have been possible without the support of the Wasserman Foundation and the Partnership for L.A. Schools, and without dozens of additional volunteers from 2^nd Platoon L.A., Team Rubicon, UCLA Student Veterans, USC Student Veterans, Santa Monica College Student Veterans, the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) Task Force, Hollywood Veterans Center, and Veterans in Film & Television.   All of us at The Mission Continues would like to give a sincere thanks to all of our friends from these organizations, and we look forward to serving alongside you again very soon!

Are you a veteran, active duty, guard or reservist? Join a platoon in your community today.