Davis Tech transition advisor tells personal story to underline power of mentorship and reentry education
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Summary
Gino Valentino Moncada described his journey from gang involvement to serving as a transition advisor at Davis Tech, arguing that mentorship, healing-centered engagement and access to education help justice-involved people reimagine futures and reduce recidivism.
Gino Valentino Moncada, transition advisor at Davis Tech, used his life story to illustrate how mentors, targeted educational supports and healing-centered engagement can change trajectories for justice-involved and at-risk youth. He told attendees he grew up in Ogden amid gang culture and early exposure to drugs, then described several turning points — a school counselor he named 'Jennifer,' a judge’s intervention and community programs — that redirected him toward education and service.
Valentino emphasized practical strategies: replace harmful belonging (gang affiliation) with constructive belonging (student government, mentorship, workforce skills), put people in positions to succeed, and use programs that meet people where they are, including in jails and reentry settings. He highlighted Davis Tech’s work bringing education into the county jail and described exercises (a three-box imagination exercise) intended to help participants visualize attainable and aspirational futures.
During a short audience exchange, Michelle Linder, a nurse with Intermountain Healthcare, gave an example of how a single mentor in her early career changed her path — illustrating the presentation’s central point that one consistent relationship can redirect a life.
Valentino closed by describing measurable benefits of reentry education (diplomas earned in custody and stories of family members who completed programs), and urged attendees to stand with people in transition rather than attempt to "save" them.
