Justice for Youth’s Safe Passages program highlights mentorship and employment paths at Pomona board meeting

Case managers and program alumni from Justice for Youth described how the nonprofit’s Safe Passages work supports students through mentoring, transportation and job connections during Wednesday’s Pomona Unified School District board meeting. Tricia Loya, who identified herself as a Safe Passages case manager with Justice for Youth, told the board: "This isn't just a job for me. It's a calling." She described setting goals with students, providing transportation and connecting young people to employment and support services such as HHAC and the YES program. Several young people who credited the program spoke directly to trustees. Astrid (identified in the transcript as Astrid/Ashley Felix) recounted being mentored, leaving a toxic relationship and later returning to serve as a mentor: "For the first time, I feel like I have someone I could trust," she said, and added that she now works at Justice for Youth and "pay[s] my own rent and bills." Eli Duran described activities he attended with the program and said Justice for Youth helped him secure a job; another former staffer, Bridal Radcliffe, said she continues to serve youth in the region from a new role at West Covina Unified. Superintendent Darren Knowles later thanked Justice for Youth and described Safe Passages as a grant-funded partnership that supports specific high schools (Gary High, Simons and Park West). Board members praised the students’ testimonials and encouraged continued partnership between the district and community providers. No formal action was taken; the presentations were part of the meeting’s oral communications and community outreach segment.