Opinion: Hope and healing in Anaheim schools

Life in Anaheim isn’t easy for many of its youth. Growing up in working-class neighborhoods with poverty woven into the fabric of their lives often means facing overwhelming obstacles from a young age. For some, it's a daily battle against instability at home, overcrowded living conditions, under-resourced schools and unstable communities with few support systems or safe spaces. These conditions force young people into a state of constant survival.

Monica is a teenager from Anaheim’s gritty east side. Her story mirrors the struggles many of her peers face. Due to financial stress, Monica's mother rented out her bedroom, forcing Monica and her siblings to sleep in the living room. She described their cramped apartment life as “like climbing a ladder—everyone stacked on top of each other.” Although her neighborhood is tightly knit, it’s also scarred by violence, broken glass littering the sidewalks and barren patches where grass should grow. When asked about gang activity and drug use, Monica shrugged: “It’s just normal. You get used to it.”

The weight of living in these conditions took its toll. During her freshman year, Monica suffered a mental health crisis and required hospitalization. She missed most of her first two years of high school and began her junior year significantly behind. The battle to catch up to her peers was an immense one.

Despite this, Monica altered the story that is typical of so many kids who face the same challenges she did. Thanks to the support of a unique collaboration between the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) and a nonprofit group, Neutral Ground, students like her are finding help to overcome immense barriers.

How it all began

Neutral Ground, led by founder Pastor Nati Alvarado, focuses on community safety and healing, especially for youth affected by gang violence, poverty and systemic trauma. Its mission centers on restorative practices, mentorship and breaking cycles of despair.

Two years ago, Gilbert High School in AUHSD—bolstered by a California Community Schools Grant—sought out a community partner. Pastor Nati and his colleague Sam, an intervention specialist, arrived at Gilbert expecting to meet with Gilbert’s principal, but instead, were introduced to two students who had direct ties to local gang activity.

Rather than a formal sit-down, what unfolded was a raw, heartfelt exchange. The students shared deeply personal accounts—growing up with incarcerated parents and feeling invisible and unsupported. Pastor Nati and Sam responded not with lectures, but with their own stories, fostering a rare moment of trust. The connection was instant. This moment planted the seed for a partnership rooted in empathy, cultural understanding and mutual respect.

Changing the narrative, one relationship at a time

Since that first encounter, Neutral Ground has established a lasting presence in several AUHSD schools. Their approach focuses on relationships—building real connections with students labeled “at-risk” and reframing them as “at-promise.” Intervention specialists are embedded in schools, participating in team meetings, restorative circles, staff training and one-on-one mentorship.

What sets Neutral Ground apart is whom they hire. Each team member has deep ties to the community and personal experiences that reflect the struggles their students are facing. These are people who’ve walked similar paths and found ways forward. Their lived experience allows them to offer not only empathy but also hope grounded in real transformation.

Al Gomez, a specialist at Gilbert, is one such figure. Growing up in a community, he once battled the same forces his students face today. When Monica stopped coming to school, it was Al who knocked on her door, spoke with her mother and began weekly check-ins. He became a bridge between Monica and her teachers. When asked what pulled her back to school, Monica didn’t hesitate: “Al. He noticed I was gone. He showed up. Someone finally cared.”

Yet healing is rarely a straight line. Just as Monica was regaining her footing—attending school regularly and working toward graduation—tragedy struck. She was shot in a gang-related incident near her home. The trauma sent her spiraling back into isolation and despair, a harsh reminder of how fragile progress can be.

Staying the course, even through setbacks

Monica’s journey reveals a hard truth: real change takes time, and setbacks are part of the process. But the commitment from AUHSD and Neutral Ground never wavered. What makes this initiative powerful isn’t perfection—it’s persistence. It's the consistent presence of adults who listen, who remain and ready after the setbacks and who refuse to give up on kids like Monica.

This work is about rebuilding more than just individual lives. It’s about restoring a sense of belonging and hope to communities. Whether it’s a student speaking up for the first time, attending class after a long absence or simply feeling seen—these are the moments that matter.

In Anaheim, a new story is being written—one of community strength, youth potential and the belief that there is always hope for the future. 

Monica continues to fight and succeed.  Against all odds, she graduated this spring. Her story is no longer just one of survival. It’s one of transformation—a reminder that when young people are supported with care, empathy, and belief, they can overcome. This is what educators and community partners must do - make sure that our youth believe that there is a future for them and that they have an important and valuable role to play in our future.