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THE PESA POST
The latest news, views and announcements from
Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action

November 18, 2021
NEW SHOES, NEW HAIRCUT, NEW LIFE
PESA social worker Rudy Martinez applies passion, commitment and creative solutions to some challenging situations
Sometimes it's the little things that make a big difference.

Case in point: PESA Assistant Director of Internships and Law Enforcement Liaison Rudy Martinez’ work with a youthful offender who had been charged with assault. “His relationship with his parents was unhealthy,” says Martinez, “and he was constantly running away. I established a positive connection with him. Despite the pandemic, I drove out to see him regularly in South Central Los Angeles. He comes from a lower socio-economic class, so we purchased him shoes and a haircut. Anything to lift the spirits of our youth. My visits have been consistent, and his relationship with his parents has since improved. He has increased motivation in school and is on track to graduate.” 

Maybe it’s his nearly two decades of previous experience as a mental health worker that makes Martinez so effective. Perhaps it’s that he comes from a long line of social workers. “I didn’t choose social work, it chose me,” he says. “It’s in my blood.” Whatever the motivation, it’s that extra-mile level of commitment that makes PESA social workers like Martinez stand out. 

Recently, he has literally been going the extra mile—170 of them daily, in fact—driving out to the Antelope Valley’s Challenger Middle School, which has a high number of students in need of his services. Martinez is PESA’s first social worker to be stationed full time on a campus, allowing him to reach those in need in a brand new way.  

“The pandemic has created increased anxieties, fears, phobias and behavioral problems,” says Martinez, who earned his Masters in Social Work from Azusa Pacific college. “[School closures] have put youth behind both socially and emotionally. We utilize a team-based approach and work in collaboration with school administration to incorporate healthy relationship skills, anger-management training and impulse-control training to the students in need. A healthier child not only improves their learning but it improves their mental health, family, social, home, community and life functioning.” 

Historically, PESA has worked with cases on a one-on-one basis, but as an organization, we’ll go where the need is greatest, and thus the approach of stationing social workers directly on campus. We’ll be sharing more about PESA’s groundbreaking approach to social services in upcoming newsletters. 

For Martinez, it’s all about bringing his passion to wherever his work takes him. “I’ve had the opportunity to speak to school principals, city councilmembers, and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors about the value of the work being done at PESA,” he says. “These types of outreaches have made it possible for PESA social workers and interns to practice social work in a school setting. In a short period of time, the collaboration and help has improved the learning environment and mental health of students.” 

Besides, he adds, “Helping others feels good.”

If you’d like to support PESA’s many social and educational initiatives, please contact us