Press Release
DO YOU WORK WITH OR KNOW A TROUBLED TEEN WHO APPEARS TO BE HEADED FOR PRISON?
We may be the answer
C.O.Y.A., Started in 1998 as a self-help organization based at the Central Arizona Detention Center in Florence, the program was sanctioned entirely by the Corrections Corporation of America.
COYA has but one objective: to counsel youth from surrounding communities to aid them from going to prison. Counseling is done through group presentations in a straight talk manner. Groups from schools, civic organizations, the courts, and any others, can be sent to these presentations or we can schedule to come to your location nation wide.
COYA will speak to these groups and share their experiences with the sole objectives to save lives, stay out of prison, and reach those who are reaching out for help. These presentations are provided in a concert style/seminar format and with a voice that they will listen to.
We deal with youths' from all back grounds, not just those at risk, in a way that people without this experience can not. The convict has always been regarded as the "black eye" of society. There is a life and death war going on out there, every time a child walks out of the front door that child is caught in the cross fire of bullets, drugs, alcohol, bad influences i.e. negative peer groups, media, gangs, etc...
COYA program has proven to be affective and successful. Awareness about destrutive decision making, will stop the reality of negative consequences. We teach the troubled youth how to get back on track and bring awareness to those who may fall off.
COYA thanks you for your help towards reaching our objective; keeping today's youth where they belong - ALIVE and OUT OF PRISON.
The Bad Boys Are Back!
Las Vegas, Nevada - February 24th, 2012 – Ex-bad boys, with a checkered past, from Anchorage , Alaska return home to save lives with expert intervention experience from Las Vegas, Nevada. Co founders Ralph Salazar and Jim Pierce, better known as COYA (Changing Our Youths in America), will give back to the community by sharing their life and professionalexperiences to combat the detriments that plague our at-risk youth.
Ralph Salazar and Jim Pierce, Behavioral Health Providers for Las Vegas (DJJS) Department of Juvenile Justice Services, utilize a multitude of techniques, evidence based programs, and community partners to ultimately decrease juvenile crime. Salazar and Pierce's case load of a 100 youths keeps them involved in extreme gangs and drug intervention.
"Been there, done that,” says Pierce, “thats how we relate. We believe every child is at risk of committing a crime especially if the home environment is severely dysfunctional, if the child can't find love and structure at home.....they'll seek it elsewhere and it's not just on the poor side of town.”
Alaska's population growth in 2011 nearly doubled the national average, according to newly released data from the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. About 11,959 people moved to the 49th state between April 2010 and July 2011.
"We believe negative influences from other states will impact our youth in Alaska” says Salazar, “we have extensive knowledge and communication skills to engage families and the community as a whole, sadly, most often than not, it's the parents that need the tools to continue what we start.”
COYA has partnered with Hall of Fame Referee Richard Steele, who is a direct partner with UFC, to function a
7,000 sq. ft. facility to provide youth and families with a safe environment, life skills, tutoring, mentoring, trades, aftercare programs, and even professional fighter training to instill commitment and discipline.
"Kid's need a safe environment they can call home”, says Steele, “but they have to continue education.”
"You can have all the potential in the world, if you don't apply it, does'nt mean jack!”, says Pierce.
"Our concept is simple...”, says Salazar, “if we can do it, anyone can!”
COYA will volunteer for Empowerment speaking (4 Major Risk Factors) at local schools, community centers, or any community events. March 12th - 16th , 2012
Contact:
Ralph Salazar
coyalv@gmail.com
2475 W. Cheyenne Ave. #110 Las Vegas, NV
Ph: 702.358.8977
Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele adds MMA at boxing club
By Adam Hill
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Hall of Fame referee Richard Steele has been using boxing to teach life skills to at-risk kids in Las Vegas since opening his boxing club in 1995.
Steele's foundation has now fully committed to mixed martial arts as well, to help communicate the same messages.
"The kids got me to go that way. They really showed the interest, and they are really coming out," he said. "This is a great sport."
Steele always has said MMA was part of the offerings at his North Las Vegas facility, but the number of participants has grown from fewer than 10 to more than 55 in the two months since he hired Hosea Kim to head up the MMA program.
The kids now have several thousand dollars in new equipment, thanks to a donation from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The organization's vice president of community relations, Reed Harris, was on hand with several fighters Thursday to show the kids how to use the gloves, pads and other equipment.
"One of the things (UFC president) Dana White and (CEO) Lorenzo Fertitta told me when I took this job was to focus on Las Vegas and focus on the youth," Harris said.
UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell was among the fighters to meet the kids and offer pointers on the equipment.
"I've been in martial arts my whole life, and I think it's very important for kids," he said. "It teaches discipline, self-control, setting goals and a lot of things they can take into the real world and really help them."
Kim said few parents have expressed concern about their children learning MMA. He stressed the curriculum in his program is designed around life skills.
"We take MMA and use it as a vehicle to push these kids to do well in school and do everything the best you can in life," he said. "These kids want to learn, so when we can have positive role models like this come in here and show their support back to these kids, it's amazing."
Harris said the stigma of MMA leading to violence has greatly diminished in the past few years.
"A lot of parents understand it's better to teach their kids how to defend themselves and, in the process, you're teaching them respect," he said. "We all know the guy that really knows how to fight doesn't fight. The guys that are confident, and the girls too, it stops a lot of the bullying and things like that."
Steele added: "We teach the kids to respect each other and themselves. Discipline is number one. When they come to class, they sit at attention. No tobacco, no alcohol, no drugs. They go through this every day, and they understand mixed martial arts is a sport. They love it because everyone around them loves it."
■ SPIN DOCTOR -- One of the reasons Carlos Condit was able to stick to his strategy for five full rounds and win the UFC interim welterweight title at UFC 143 on Saturday was his ability to not get sucked into a brawl with Nick Diaz.
Diaz is notorious for trash-talking in the cage and taking his opponents out of their game plan. He appeared to be talking for nearly the entire 25 minutes, but Condit didn't take the bait. He did, however, recount one humorous exchange.
Condit threw several spinning back fists and spinning back elbows, and apparently Diaz was caught off guard.
"So, we're throwing spinning (expletive) now?" Condit recounted Diaz saying. "I cracked a smile at that one and just kinda said, 'Yes, I am.' "
■ HOLIDAY CARDS PLANNED -- The UFC has asked the Nevada Athletic Commission for clearance to host events at the MGM Grand on May 26 and July 7. The Memorial Day and July 4 holiday weekend cards are expected to be pay-per-view events.
