My passion to help our most vulnerable youth in San Diego connect with those who protect us continues to inspire me. Our mission to empower underserved youth to build a safer and more prosperous community by engaging with our police men and women is needed today more than ever. With over 8 years of service to STAR/PAL,  I am convinced our law enforcement-led youth programs make our communities safer.

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Supporting STAR/PAL in connecting youth and law enforcement in healthy recreational activities early and often is a goal Monica sees as vital in building stronger community trust and cultural understanding between officers and kids.

Maximizing all available resources and facilitating collaboration between groups is a priority to her.. She believes working as a team is essential to address our challenges of social justice, racial equity, literacy, multi-generational poverty, mental health, homelessness, housing and employment.

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STAR/PAL is a great organization in which our officers can interact and build relationships with the kids in the communities we serve.  It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to guide and mentor kids, along with help them make the right choices to ensure they have a bright and successful future.  I want to encourage every child to be great citizens, be proud of what they have accomplished and recognize the potential of what they have yet to become.

My connection to STAR/PAL stems from my experience growing up in a very diverse neighborhood.  I was able to see the difference in outcomes that came with having a safe place to learn and play. I feel that by having the youth of the community and our law enforcement working together, STAR/PAL provides an opportunity to so many young men and women to succeed.  

Molding our youth is an impactful mission for every generation. I wanted to be a part of an organization that steps up for our youth as they are the future of our global community.

After 28 years as a police officer (21 years with San Diego Unified School Police), I have seen first-hand the quality of activities, educational support, and youth mentorship offered by STAR/PAL.   Especially during difficult financial times when many community-based organizations must reduce services (or close their doors altogether), STAR/PAL has provided some of the most consistent and stable services for generations of San Diego youth.   I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors, supporting an organization that has offered so much to our community.

I am so proud of the kids in our STAR/PAL programs and I am inspired by the volunteers, officers, and staff who devote their time, energy and hearts to connect in meaningful ways.  Our kids deserve the chance to fulfill their dreams, and STAR/PAL is creating positive pathways to get there – it’s a team effort and I’m honored to participate

Kids need role models to look-up to, to mimic and to help them form their self-image. I had the great fortune of growing up in a community full of outstanding role models, most notably our policemen and women, which is why I want to help the kids in our communities feel that same sense of belonging and ownership. STAR/PAL’s mission is to introduce our community’s at-risk children to law enforcement officers through educational and recreational programming, thus fostering the child/role model relationship. The bonds that form and the lessons that are learned by ALL participants strengthen our communities and change lives.

Strong community bonds between youth and law enforcement are pivotal to keeping our communities safe. STAR/PAL empowers youth and helps to ensure their future success by building trust and mutual respect with law enforcement.