The Diamond in the Rough

Turning Point of the City (TPC) believes in the leadership potential of young men who are at risk of, or are, justice engaged.  TPC works closely with schools and other agencies to reintegrate these young men into normal school activities with caring adults and positive peer relationships. These protective factors increase the likelihood of graduation, reducing a young man’s chance of going to prison by 75%.

Below is a story of Aaron, one of our participants.

Obviously, the football team was upset, they hadn’t expected coming out of the locker room tunnel being spat on from their home bleachers. The trash talk grew more escalated as they identified the young man… who stared back with an unnerving calmness.  Eventually the coaches shuttled the team onto the field and reported the incident to the Dean of Students.

In my meeting with the Dean of Students, I was introduced to the young man as a candidate for extra supports. Story continued from email After meeting Aaron, I knew Aaron had the leadership qualities we wanted in our program. While shocking, Aaron’s anti-social behavior contained a distorted authenticity, conviction in belief, and a willingness to take consequences.

Aaron joined TPC’s Mentoring+, which includes our sports program, a program that accelerates the development of trust and focuses on developing youth accountability for personal behavior and the treatment of others. Over the next 9 months Aaron’s character, physical abilities, and trust in us grew, prompting him and his family to take advantage of other individualized supports, including counseling for individual and family dynamics, and tutoring that focused on assignment completion.

Aaron started the fall semester of 2025 differently. As Jason Wilson, a dean of students at Montbello Highschool recalled “The difference is night and day. After participating with TPC, Aaron has an exuberant approach to participation in varies school activities, increased his effort in class, shown positive leadership among his peers, and has dramatically improved his communication with teachers and staff.”

As Aaron’s positive leadership skills and potential continue to emerge, Aaron continues to progress in school, has a job, and yesterday helped me encourage another young man to return to school.  TPC is incredibly proud of Aaron taking the steps necessary to let his natural leadership emerge as a positive force for his peers and community.