STANDUP FOR KIDS Los Angeles

Nothing like doing outreach on the Promenade in Santa Monica, California!

I couldn’t wait to get finished with training and get out to the streets and meet all the kids I’d heard about. Yet, something in me was still a little apprehensive. Was I holding back? I wanted to go but then I didn’t. Was I afraid? Afraid of what? Afraid of Who?
We parked in the multi-story parking lot, loaded up the backpacks with food and hygiene products and walked toward the Promenade. The “old school” counselors knew where to go. I was following along, just a few steps behind. Was I afraid? Not me, not the super jock. But, inside I think I was. Not afraid of what might happen or what I might see. But, afraid of what I might say, or yet, what was I going to say? “Good afternoon, nice to meet you.” Wow. That’s lame!

The counselors are talking to someone. They’re introducing a kid name “Spreckles” to me. He sticks out his hand and does a one-minute routine of shaking hands, I fumbled through it somehow. Spreckles was my age, 17, and had been on the streets for three years. His Mom got remarried and his step-dad showed him the door. I opened up the backpack and we “chowed” down. He because he was hungry, for me I think it was my nerves. I noticed the “old schoolers” talking to a couple of other kids, one of them was new and they were telling her about our program. I don’t know who had more questions, Spreckles or me, but we must have talked for 20-30 minutes. As we walked on up the Promenade I smiled to myself. I knew there was nothing to be afraid of!