illegal immigration p.20 food paradise p.14 january-february 2009 www.Layouth.com also inside 5 learning to beatbox 6 my favorite sound essays struggling to lower 24 my cholesterol My family lived in fear of my abusive PAGE 10 father Leave us aLone about L.a. Youth involved. Newcomer’s orientations are held every other month on Saturday mornings. Call for info at How did L.A. Youth start? (323) 938-9194. Regular staff meetings are held every Former teacher Donna Myrow founded the nonprofit Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. teen newspaper in 1988 after the Supreme Court senior Writers: Lia Dun, Marshall HS • Brandy Hernandez, Hawthorne Academy • Sylvana Insua-Rieger, Beverly Hills HS • Se Kim, Pacifica Christian HS • Hazelwood decision, which struck down student press Where is L.A. Youth distributed? Charlene Lee, Walnut HS • Samantha Richards, S.O.C.E.S. rights. Myrow saw a need for an independent, uncen- L.A. Youth is distributed free to teachers at public and sored forum for youth expression. L.A. Youth is now private schools throughout Los Angeles County. It can staff: Amani Alexander, Pasadena HS • Gabe Andreen, Pilgrim School • Stacey Avnes, S.O.C.E.S. • Benjamin Bang, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS • Anisa Berry, View Park Prep HS • Jessica Carreiro, celebrating its 21st year of publishing. also be picked up for free at many public libraries and Wilson HS • Raymond Carrillo • Patricia Chavarria, Cesar Chavez HS • Cecilia Cho, Burbank HS agencies that provide services to teens. • Sally Choi, The Linden Center • Sarah Chung, Fairfax HS • Emily Clarke, Palisades Charter HS • How is L.A. Youth doing today? Vanessa Cordova, Glendale HS • Britawnya Craft, Warren HS • Jose Dizon, La Cañada HS • Melissa Etehad, Santa Monica HS • Rene Franco, Providence HS • Esteban Garcia, Warren HS • Jacky L.A. Youth now has a readership of 500,000 in Los Angeles How is L.A. Youth funded? Garcia, Lynwood HS • Genesis Godoy, Environmental Charter HS • Mike Gutierrez, Santa Fe HS • County. Hundreds of students have benefited from L.A. Youth is a nonprofit charitable organization Ashley Hansack, King Drew Medical Magnet HS • Fiona Hansen, Marlborough School • Brandie L.A. Youth’s journalism training. Many have graduated funded by grants from foundations and corporations, Hanson, North HS • Emily He, Whitney HS • Brett Hicks, Loyola HS • Crystal Huh, Crescenta Valley HS • Destiny Jackson, Mayfair HS • Sharon Kim, Beverly Hills HS • Allison Ko, Wilson HS from college and have built on their experiences at donations and advertising. • Kevin Ko, Wilson HS • Justin Koh, Cleveland HS • Elliot Kwon, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS • Sam L.A. Youth to pursue careers in journalism, teaching, Landsberg, Hamilton HS • Elis Lee, Crescenta Valley HS • Joyce Lee, La Cañada HS • John Lisowski, research and other fields. Our Foster Youth Writing What is L.A. Youth’s mission? Laurel Springs School • Brian Lopez-Santos, Marshall HS • Carla Love, Ouchi HS • Amanda Ly, Mark Keppel HS • Stefany Macario, King Drew Medical Magnet HS • Cathleen McCaffery, Marlborough Project has brought the stories of teens in foster care to We will provide teens with the highest level of School • Edison Mellor-Goldman, L.A.C.E.S. • Diana Musina, Beverly Hills HS • Jasper Nahid, New the newspaper. For more info, see www.layouth.com. journalism education, civic literacy and job skills. We Roads School • Jennie Nguyen, Wilson MS • Michelle Paik, Palos Verdes Peninsula HS • Jean Park, will strengthen and build our relationships with more Harvard-Westlake School • Yana Pavlova, Hollywood HS • Casey Peeks, Marlborough School • Taila Proctor-Jackson, Village Christian HS • Camilla Rambaldi, Taft HS • Fahiya Rashid, Hollywood HS • How do teens get involved with L.A. Youth? teachers to bring relevant issues into the classroom Jackie Rosen, Palisades Charter HS • Solange Rubio, Leuzinger HS • Francisco Sandoval, Nogales HS Teens usually join the staff of L.A. Youth when they and improve the quality of education. We will reach • Aaron Sayago, Fairfax HS • Aaron Siegal-Eisman, L.A.C.E.S. • Charlotte Toumanoff, Marshall HS read the newspaper and see a notice inviting them out to the community to better educate policy makers • Kaitlyn Tsai, Walnut HS • Juan Valdovinos, Fremont HS • Hennessy Valle, El Camino Real HS • Jessica Wang, Walnut HS • Stephany Yong, Walnut HS • Jisu Yoo, Glendale HS to a newcomer’s orientation. They also get involved about teen issues; create a more positive image of teens through our summer workshop for writers. Sometimes in the mainstream media; and raise the credibility and Publisher: Donna C. Myrow a teacher or parent will encourage them to get awareness of L.A. Youth. editors: Mike Fricano, Amanda Riddle associate Editor: Laura Lee administrative Director: Robyn Zelmanovitz design Consultant: Wayne M. DeSelle L.A. Youth is published by Youth News Service (YNS), a not-for-profit corporation. Editorial offices are at 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036. Phone (323) 938-9194. Free copies of L.A. Youth Website: www.layouth.com. E-mail: [email protected] L.A. Youth would like to express its gratitude to the following individuals for Los Angeles teachers who donate their time, patience and expertise to our writers: L.A. Youth is distributed free six times a year to high school or middle school teachers in most of l.a. Youth Board of Directors Los Angeles County. Teachers also can look forward to getting a free copy of the L.A. Youth Teacher’s Gail Boyle — Union Bank of California Paul Catherwood — The Capital Group Guide with each issue. We do not share your info with other organizations or businesses. Vanna Dao—Los Angeles Times Eva Semple Davis — Warner Brothers Home Video Elizabeth Del Cid — Burke, Williams & Sorenson, LLP (L.A. Youth alum) Fred Freeman — Writer/Producer Gohar Galyan—UCLA Anderson School of Management student (L.A. Youth alum) Douglas Mirell — Loeb & Loeb LLP I would like to receive L.A. Youth Ken Preston — Business consultant free of charge six times a year. David Rickley — Los Angeles Times Jeff Sperber—Educator Rosabel Tao — Spot Runner Name The Los Angeles Times donates the printing of L.A. Youth. School l.a. Youth Advisory Board Stephen Clark, HUD • Noel Greenwood, Los Angeles Times (retired) • Bill Leider, Leider, Turner School Phone Ext. and Assoc. • Spot Runner • Loretta Thompson, Loeb & Loeb LLP • VPE Public Relations • Zeek Interactive, Inc. Address Many thanks to our friends who made this issue possible: Annenberg Foundation • Bay & Paul Foundation • Bing Family Foundation • Blue Shield of City Zip code California Foundation • Brinson Foundation • The California Endowment • The California Wellness Foundation • The Capital Group • Marcy Carsey • Carol and James Collins Foundation • Compton Foundation • Brad and Grace Ellis • Endeavor Foundation • Ethics and Excellence E-mail in Journalism Foundation • The Ford Foundation • Leonard Green Foundation • Guenther Foundation • The James Irvine Foundation • Los Angeles Times • Majestic Realty • McCormick Special delivery instructions: Foundation • Northrup Grumman • Open Society Institute • Parsons Foundation • The Rose Hills Foundation • Robert Ellis Simon Foundation • Lon Smith Foundation • Sony Pictures • Helen and Jeff Sperber • S. Stern Trust • Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation • Stuart Foundation • I would like: copies (20-copy minimum order) Surdna Foundation • Union Bank • Weingart Foundation. Also: Jan Langer • Susan LaTempa • Dave Novotney • Mike Sergieff • Leonard Simon, PhD. • Mail to: L.A. Youth Subscriptions, 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036 Rick Terry. or call (323) 938-9194 or e-mail [email protected]. To get a subscription through the mail, send $15 for one year (six issues) to: Circulation Dept., L.A. Youth, 5967 W. Third St. Suite 301, Los Angeles CA 90036. Provide name, address and zip code. Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved. l.a.youth January-February 2009 www.layouth.com januarY-feBruary 2009 m A i L CONTENTS These are letters we stacle that comes her way. received about stories in Breanna Juarez the November-December East Valley HS (North Hollywood) 2008 issue of L.A. Youth: Cover I found this article interest- My friend beCaMe ing to read because it made me story: a teen moM think twice. I think it’s sad how This article was a real eye- Michelle had to find out what leave opener for me because I never responsibility really is the hard us alone really thought about how a preg- way. I don’t think students have nant girl feels about her preg- the right to judge her. Students A boy’s family nancy. I would usually just think shouldn’t have treated her differ- lived in fear of his those girls didn’t care about ently because she was pregnant. abusive father school, but this story about Mi- Nobody has the right to judge chelle proved that was wrong. you. You learn from your mis- page 10 Michelle cared about school, takes. Also, it’s amazing how she she just never had sex educa- can take care of her daughter and tion. People usually look down go to school. on pregnant teenagers and shun Joana Garcia them, when what they need is a East Valley HS good friend to help them through that rough time. I think there I really enjoyed this story should be more people like Sol- because it shocked me to know ange in this world. Kudos to her how so many teenagers are preg- for being such a good friend. nant even if it wasn’t their inten- Cover illustration by Bianca Tran tion. I have a friend who also got Edison mellor-Goldman, San Gabriel HS pregnant at an early age. She was 17, Los Angeles Center so shocked to find out she was for Enriched Studies I really enjoyed this article. pregnant. I was pretty shocked My sister is a teen parent and too, but I think she didn’t really I’ve seen how hard it is to have a mind having a baby and is glad child.