It’s not about authority. It’s about building relationships.
STAR/PAL provides a safe place for youth to develop themselves through relationship building with peers and law enforcement officers. Youth development and self-growth is cultivated through educational presentations, civic engagement and shared experiences of exploration and activity throughout our youth programs. We provide youth an opportunity to participate in new and varied experiences while engaging with adults who have dedicated themselves to supporting the community and the youth within it.
Varying age-appropriate programs are offered to grades K-12 and are facilitated by law-enforcement officers. Youth are able to pose questions of law enforcement officers in a safe, learning environment, an opportunity that is rarely presented to our youth. They are able to learn accurate and relevant information regarding topics that affect their day-to-day life, which in turn, prepares them to face the challenges they encounter on a daily basis.
STAR/PAL means everything to me because it feels like my second home. I am proud that I came here because it inspired me a lot; it made changes in my life.
— Erick, STAR/PAL Participant, age 13
The best thing about being at STAR/PAL is the relationships you build. You don’t find them anywhere else. Yes, you will go to a school for four years, but you would never build a relationship like you do in a program like this where you become a family.
— Malba, STAR/PAL Participant, age 17
…we’re a family and the facilitators are like parents. No matter rain or sunshine, I always wanted to go to STAR/PAL. Even though there was pizza, we weren’t there for the pizza.
— Trevor, STAR/PAL Participant, 20
My mother was never around due to drug use, and my father spent most of my life in jail. STAR/PAL has been my support structure when I had no parents.
— Aileen, STAR/PAL Participant, age 17