Merriam Webster defines it as “a spreading, pervasive, and usually unintentional effect or influence.” Everyone from physicists to philosophers have mused and expounded upon it. But for living, breathing proof of the ripple effect in action, look no further than Teen Court: A young first-time offender is charged with a crime, but rather than sending him down the often inescapable spiral of the traditional justice system, he is diverted, offered a shot at redemption. And the impact that has on not just his own life but those involved in all phases of the process can be positive, profound and exponential.
Case in point: Jesus Gonzalez. As a senior at Bellflower High School in 2018, Gonzalez volunteered for his school’s nascent Teen Court program. In that capacity, he served among a true jury of teenaged peers, hearing cases under the guidance of actual judges, weighing evidence, asking questions, deciding fates, considering conditions of diversion. Like so many of his fellow jurors who may have signed on not initially fully understanding the gravity of the experience, he took the task seriously. These were real cases, after all, with real victims, real perpetrators and real consequences.
“It was amazing,” says Gonzalez, now a rising senior at Cal State University Long Beach. “Why couldn’t they have had this when I was a freshman? I would have served all four years!”
Clearly inspired, Gonzalez joined the campus Teen Court Club and, after graduation, joined the Teen Court Alumni Association and was soon invited to serve as an advisor to the Teen Court program.
“I’m one month out of high school,” he recalls excitedly, “and you want me to work for PESA? I’ll take it! I became a Teen Court proctor back at Bellflower High School, where I helped prepare jurors. From there, I said, ‘Give me more schools.’ I worked with Cabrillo High, Ernest McBride High, Downey High. I found myself learning about law, politics, civic engagement. It got me out of my comfort zone. Prior to this, I had been a quiet, shy person. But now, I love talking to students, giving them insight about Teen Court. It was such a beneficial experience. That’s where my own engagement and advocacy began.”
Indeed, Gonzalez has since worked as a program coordinator for California State Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (58th Assembly District), and at CSULB he became active with Associated Students, Inc. So active, in fact, he recently ran for and was elected as that entity’s president.
“Meeting with students who have the same interests as me," the sociology major/political science minor says is what motivates him. "Advocating for their needs, listening to them, and making them feel like their voices are being heard.” Though he says he works hard to represent all 38,000 CSULB students, he particularly enjoys working on issues affecting students of color, undocumented students and those needing financial assistance. “I was able to introduce a program to the university that would allow undocumented students to receive food assistance,” says Gonzalez. “It was approved, and in the fall, we’ll be the first university to have this program.”
Gonzalez is quick to credit the Teen Court program as a life-changer that helped chart his course. “Teen Court did a lot for me,” he says. “It gave me an opportunity to speak up.”
And now that Gonzalez has found his voice, we have a hunch we’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the years to come. Talk about a ripple effect!
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