G-CAPP Participates in
Gainsville Middle School Open House and Family Welcoming Day

Kicking off the start of a new school year, representatives from G-CAPP's Gainesville Campaign Community participated in the Gainesville Middle School Open House and Family Welcoming Day.

G-CAPP staff members Olga Chavez, Homero Lopez and Greg Bautista spent the afternoon recruiting parents to enroll in a series of Spanish-language educational workshops and presentations for adolescent pregnancy prevention.

G-CAPP staff also distributed information on the Hombres Jovenes Con Palabra program, which translates as "young men of their word." Hombres Jovenes Con Palabra is a youth development program designed specifically for Latino males. The program has been shown to be an effective means of addressing high rates of adolescent pregnancy and gang involvement among Latino adolescent males. Hombres Jovenes Con Palabra features a rites of passage format with exploration of issues such as cultural identity, machismo, gender norms, self-respect, honor, pride, indigenous heritage, self-worth and self-esteem. Homero Lopez, Olga Chavez and Greg Bautista recruited more than 25 adolescents and families for participation G-CAPP's various programs.