School offers last chance to troubled youth from South Central's mean streets

National Catholic Reporter, Feb 28, 2003 by Arthur Jones

It plays out well in the classrooms, said Leon. The students know the aides and teachers have the same gang-risk or juvenile hall backgrounds they do.

Leon has another problem to juggle: SEA school neighbors. They don't always want an alternative school on their street, a school populated with teens trying to avoid gangs, drugs and violence.

In the early days, Leon sweet-talked churches and other agencies into renting premises. But sooner or later he said, they'd be asked to move on. That's why South Central SEA moved from classrooms across the road into its little house. A woman had given Leon the house for his work. Businesses have donated premises, too. SEA now owns a third of its 18 school premises.

The undeterred Leon persists in gently trying to get more.

Head cocked as he looked at the wire gate to SEA South Central, he said, "The kids are so proud of this place. They keep it immaculate. They've got a stake in something. It's theirs."