Of Dan Lujan and the dearth of role models for youth

I'm so upset at the Salinas boxing coach I could scream. True, you're innocent until proven guilty, but if there was enough evidence for him to even be arrested on charges of child molestation, it doesn't look good already.

Dan Lujan was arrested Thursday accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl by rubbing topical cream all over her body. Lujan allegedly wanted to have a sexual relationship with her, according to the Salinas police. You can read more about it here and here.

I spent many afternoons with Lujan, and witnessed his dedication to young people in one of the most perilous neighborhoods for young people. His boxing gym in the middle of Closter Park served dozens of young men living on the edge of gang violence. To have him arrested with these charges is truly heartbreaking for me, as I'm sure it will be for many more. That's how many must have felt when Raul Ramirez, former assistant principal at Alisal High, was also arrested on child molestation charges.

Alisal is teeming with teenagers and youth. Role models are not abundant and can't keep up with the need -- the ones who exist are truly remarkable. So when one of these role models falls pray to human foibles, it's devastating.

I hope somebody steps up to keep the boxing club open. I also hope these allegations turn out to be false, but the journalist in me is not very optimistic.

Career day at Los Padres Elementary in Salinas

I envy our firefighters and policemen with such neat toys to show off during career day.

Hey, I have my iPad. But somehow, I don't think the kindergarteners at Vera Brazil's class of Los Padres Elementary were that impressed.

Along with two dozen other professionals, I ventured into the very challenging territory of an elementary school. Eva Silva and Jose Gil, parents and organizers extraordinaire, invited me to be a presenter during career day. Everyone seems to be going to one these days: California schools chief Tom Torlakson, Latino rockers Ozomatli. Their musicians definitely have better toys.

Although it was very challenging to try to inspire kindergarteners to pursue a career in journalism, I had better luck with the second graders. A couple of them already knew they wanted to be reporters, and wanted to know if it was hard work.

The hardest part, I think, it's to know whether there will be newspapers by the time they grow up. That's why having the iPad was a good prop. Maybe we won't have newspapers then, maybe not even tablet computers, but journalism will remain. And there's always TV and radio, right?

MPUSD solar suitcase builders graduate

MPUSD students who participated in the solar suitcase project had a "graduation" ceremony on May 20 at Spanish Bay, courtesy of the Pebble Beach Co.

"We had a good turnout with many students and parents who participated in the project," writes Alan Jensen, the teacher-coordinator for the program. The highlight of the evening was that Dr. Laura Stachel who started We Care Solar gave a very inspirational and motivational speech. She talked about visiting Africa and seeing that women were dying because they couldn't get adequate maternal care because of the lack of electricity."

Jensen learned about We Care Solar at a conference in Denver, and decided his students would benefit from participating in a project like this. The group built two solar suitcases that have already found homes in Africa.

"We used them as our inspiration for this project," Jensen writes. "For the students to actually meet and hear the story by this incredible woman is something they will remember the rest of their lives. I just saw that the students are pictured with Dr. Laura on the We Care Solar facebook page."

Which you can find here.

Congratulations, Mr. Jensen! You've inspired these young people to look at the world and do something good for it!