Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zones in San Bernardino

Rocio Ruiz has a difficult time imagining what her high school experience would have been like if she had not gotten involved in PICO affiliate Inland Congregations United for Change (ICUC) in San Bernardino, CA.

“Now that I look back, I can’t see myself not coming to ICUC meetings. It’s a part of my life now,” says Ruiz, a senior at San Gorgonio High School.

As a member of the youth group at St. Bernadine’s Catholic Church, Ruiz started getting involved when her youth minister invited her to attend a meeting with ICUC. At the time, Ruiz had just started high school and began to witness school violence first hand.

“I went to one of the best middle schools. It was always peaceful. I never saw a fight there. Then I got to high school and there was a fight at least once a week,” reflected Ruiz. “Doing the work with ICUC, I began to see how violence was a daily experience for students. It’s become normal for them.”

“We the youth have to do something about it,” continued Ruiz. If we don’t do something, we can’t expect the adults to do anything about it because we’re the ones living it.”

Reflecting upon how she has grown through her work with ICUC over the past two years, Ruiz commented about the confidence she has developed by becoming a leader in her community.

“Working with ICUC makes you get out of your comfort zone. It’s really helped me grow. I never would have pictured myself going into a meeting with a city councilor and telling them what we think is wrong with our city and what we should do. I used to get intimidated by the adults, but now, I realize it’s our right to tell them what we see and what we feel, especially because we’re the ones living it.”

For more information on Inland Congregations United for Change, visit www.icucpico.org