Creating a better future for our community through advocacy, mentorship, and education.

PESA is a vital non-profit organization providing a host of critical services to the community, with a focus on serving students and youth. Working with juvenile referrals from law enforcement entities and educational institutions, PESA is able to transform these participants through its diversion programs into respectful and productive citizens. PESA also provides tutoring services, mental-health support, educational programming and mentorship to students at elementary, middle and high schools throughout Los Angeles County.



OUR VALUES

  • We strive to empower the youth in our program to be self-advocates as they work towards a prosperous, enjoyable future. As an organization, we support our clients and all youth at a local, state, and national level by giving them access to resources, tools, and services that will ensure their success.

  • Our mentors are dedicated to serving as figures for youth to look up to and will help guide them through daily life by offering successful communication methods and supporting them through their every endeavor and developmental phase.  

  • We partner with a wide array of individuals and organizations working in different fields in order to enhance our ability to serve, mentor, and advocate for the youth in our community, and to expand the network of resources we may provide. 

  • We acknowledge the capability of everyone, regardless of age, culture, economic status educational background, ethnicity, criminal history, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation. 

  • We value the individual contributions of employees, interns, volunteers, and partners as we work collectively to achieve our goals. We respect all of our employees’ input on our many projects regardless of their intersectional identity.

  • We hold paramount both the physical and emotional safety and security of the youth we work with and work tirelessly to ensure that any PESA-affiliated setting is a safe space for all.

OUR PROGRAMS

  • Our early intervention diversion programs act as a substitute for the Juvenile Justice Court System for youth under 18 years-old who have committed a high-level misdemeanor or low-level felony. Diversion programs provide an alternative method of delinquency intervention to the formal juvenile justice system. Such programs promote positive development and increase access to community-based services, diverting youth from the juvenile court.

  • Our educational program acts as preventative interventions for students, aiming to increase school bonding, support and encourage a future career, aid students in their academics, and comprehensively educate students on workforce development, academic achievement, civic engagement, and restorative justice.

  • Our workforce development program aims to increase employability for clients, provide practicum placements for our interns, and ultimately, fill our future workforce with educated and professional youth.

  • Our civic engagement program provides an immersive and interactive learning experience regarding governing institutions, how to get involved, and how to make a difference. Participants are exposed to guest speakers and real-world experiences to create a capstone project, allowing students to practice civic engagement in their own lives and communities. 

This month is Universal Human Rights Month! The United Nations explains that this month includes addressing and finding solutions for deep-rooted form of discrimination that have affected the most vulnerable people in societies. At #PESA
This month is Universal Human Rights Month! The United Nations explains that this month includes addressing and finding solutions for deep-rooted form of discrimination that have affected the most vulnerable people in societies. At #PESA our goal is to #empower #youth to be advocates in their #communities who stand for the populations and issues they care for and help make the changes they want to see made.
Recently, PESA Lions had the pleasure of hosting Honorable John Lawson as part of #PESA's Distinguished Speaker Series. An intimate gathering of #students, all of whom are interested in pursuing a #legal career in the future, heard from Judge Lawso
Recently, PESA Lions had the pleasure of hosting Honorable John Lawson as part of #PESA's Distinguished Speaker Series. An intimate gathering of #students, all of whom are interested in pursuing a #legal career in the future, heard from Judge Lawson about his journey of becoming a successful lawyer and judge.
Meet our team: group edition! We are so grateful for all our #staff and #interns.
Meet our team: group edition! We are so grateful for all our #staff and #interns.
This week, as students across the nation take time to spend with their families, #PESA has ventured to recognize the importance of Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day. The month of November and the day after Thanksgiving
This week, as students across the nation take time to spend with their families, #PESA has ventured to recognize the importance of Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day. The month of November and the day after Thanksgiving were chosen as times to #honor and #celebrate Native Americans' vibrant cultures, traditions, and heritage while recognizing their many #contributions to our past, present and future.
Remember to practice #mindfulness and self care this #holiday season. For all our #students and families who are home with one another, share these tips and remember them in times of stress, grief, and even happiness.
Remember to practice #mindfulness and self care this #holiday season. For all our #students and families who are home with one another, share these tips and remember them in times of stress, grief, and even happiness.
This week we are highlighting Ashari Wallace, one of #PESA's Field Instructors for our Masters of Social Work #Interns. Ashari is an Associate Clinical Social Worker and currently works as an Academic Advisor for the Social Work #MSW program at Simmo
This week we are highlighting Ashari Wallace, one of #PESA's Field Instructors for our Masters of Social Work #Interns. Ashari is an Associate Clinical Social Worker and currently works as an Academic Advisor for the Social Work #MSW program at Simmons University (her alma mater). Keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming Faces of PESA newsletter to hear more about Ashari's passions and why she has chosen #socialwork and most importantly, how she has helped PESA #grow.
Each October, schools nationwide engage in "Red Ribbon Week,” a drug-abuse prevention campaign that teaches students of all grade levels about alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and ways to prevent use. This year, from October 24th through the 30t
Each October, schools nationwide engage in "Red Ribbon Week,” a drug-abuse prevention campaign that teaches students of all grade levels about alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and ways to prevent use. This year, from October 24th through the 30th, #PESA staffer Jesus Gonzalez supported Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School by delivering a series of #informative presentations on drugs and user prevention.
November is National #Adoption Month so we want to take this time to increase national #awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth #e
November is National #Adoption Month so we want to take this time to increase national #awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth #engagement. We never know what it's like to live in someone else's shoes, even if we have similar experiences. We encourage everyone to take time this month to #learn more about adoption, especially as it pertains to older adolescents and the effect this can have on their mental health and life outcomes.
Meet your team Monday! Today we'd like to highlight one of our main feet on the ground in the Antelope Valley: Rudy Martinez. Rudy received his Masters of Social Work from Azusa Pacific University and joined #PESA shortly after graduation. He #empo
Meet your team Monday! Today we'd like to highlight one of our main feet on the ground in the Antelope Valley: Rudy Martinez. Rudy received his Masters of Social Work from Azusa Pacific University and joined #PESA shortly after graduation. He #empowers the #youth he works with through a strength-based perspective and, as Assistant Director of Behavioral Health, Rudy provides training to #interns to gain social work knowledge and have a rich understanding of social work on micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
This academic year, #PESA has stepped in to provide resources to learn about higher education options at Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School (LALA). PESA #staff members Jesus Gonzalez and Devapriya Roy, who are recent #college graduates them
This academic year, #PESA has stepped in to provide resources to learn about higher education options at Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School (LALA). PESA #staff members Jesus Gonzalez and Devapriya Roy, who are recent #college graduates themselves, lead this effort by coordinating with LALA’s administration and local public and private universities.  The first of these field trips occurred at the University of Southern California (#USC) on October 19. Over 60 eighth graders were led on a tour around USC's wonderful campus and had the opportunity to see its numerous #academic buildings, athletic facilities, and social gathering spots.
This month is Universal Human Rights Month! The United Nations explains that this month includes addressing and finding solutions for deep-rooted form of discrimination that have affected the most vulnerable people in societies. At #PESA Recently, PESA Lions had the pleasure of hosting Honorable John Lawson as part of #PESA's Distinguished Speaker Series. An intimate gathering of #students, all of whom are interested in pursuing a #legal career in the future, heard from Judge Lawso Meet our team: group edition! We are so grateful for all our #staff and #interns. This week, as students across the nation take time to spend with their families, #PESA has ventured to recognize the importance of Native American Heritage Month and Native American Heritage Day. The month of November and the day after Thanksgiving Remember to practice #mindfulness and self care this #holiday season. For all our #students and families who are home with one another, share these tips and remember them in times of stress, grief, and even happiness. This week we are highlighting Ashari Wallace, one of #PESA's Field Instructors for our Masters of Social Work #Interns. Ashari is an Associate Clinical Social Worker and currently works as an Academic Advisor for the Social Work #MSW program at Simmo Each October, schools nationwide engage in "Red Ribbon Week,” a drug-abuse prevention campaign that teaches students of all grade levels about alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and ways to prevent use. This year, from October 24th through the 30t November is National #Adoption Month so we want to take this time to increase national #awareness of adoption issues, bring attention to the need for adoptive families for teens in the foster care system, and emphasize the value of youth #e Meet your team Monday! Today we'd like to highlight one of our main feet on the ground in the Antelope Valley: Rudy Martinez. Rudy received his Masters of Social Work from Azusa Pacific University and joined #PESA shortly after graduation. He #empo This academic year, #PESA has stepped in to provide resources to learn about higher education options at Los Angeles Leadership Academy High School (LALA). PESA #staff members Jesus Gonzalez and Devapriya Roy, who are recent #college graduates them