Albuquerque Journal Article

http://www.abqjournal.com/riorancho/062350387825west08-06-09.htm

Thursday, August 06, 2009
Group of former 'thugs' rebuilds meeting place
By Maggie Ybarra
Journal Staff Writer

It's a small blessing for a community that has seen its share of curses.

La Plazita Institute — a South Valley-based organization that helps local youths overcome destructive and gang-related lifestyles — recently celebrated the reconstruction of one of its buildings with a blessing ceremony performed by Aztec dancers.

The building, located at 827 Isleta, had been partially burnt by a fire in August 2008.

But organizers say the true blessing wasn't the return of the building: It was the re-congregation of La Plazita's Thugs Making A Change program which, until recently, had no place to meet.

Members of TMAC — a program composed of young men mainly between the ages of 15 and 20 — help others in times of need.

They spend their spare time cultivating corn, tomatoes, chile and other produce at the Sanchez Farm, then donate the produce to people in the community. They also pick up trash in the area and paint over graffiti on the walls or fences of nearby neighborhoods.

TMAC also raised money to help a woman who couldn't afford to bury her baby after the child died, member Robert Maestas said.

“We had a car wash and we helped her out in that way, and we gathered up a little bit of money and everybody cooked food and ... we (sold) the food and (sold) waters and stuff like that,” Maestas said.

TMAC members also pride themselves on self-reliance. Instead of seeking assistance, they educated themselves on how to take apart their burnt building, rebuild its frame, stucco and put windows in. They worked in conjunction with YouthBuild USA to rebuild the dilapidated portions until the building was fit to house youth programs again.

Maestas said there was a shared determination among group members to repair the building as soon as possible.

“Initially, while the building was burnt down, we didn't meet anywhere at that time,” Maestas said. “So we were just working on it as many hours as we could to get the building started — to get the building going — so we could get our meetings back up.”

Edmund Pacheco, 20, said the one thing he and other members have in common is the desire to shed their former lives and make a difference in the lives of others. He said he has been a member of TMAC for six years.

“Instead of a gang label, we (have) something else — a bigger thing to be a part of,” he said.

Maestas said helping others is how members of TMAC help themselves. Dedicating their time to giving instead of receiving has helped them change their former self-serving lifestyles and gain perspective, he said.

“I don't do a lot of the bad stuff that I used to do,” Maestas said. “I don't get into trouble any more. I think about stuff before I do it now, and I've got a lot more manners and more respect for my elders.”

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