'Anti-gang' gang built by 14 years with strong Moral Values Program

By Corky Templeman

THE LAND PARK NEWS

Recently the spotlight fell on an orderly, well-dressed, peaceful teenage contingent of McClatchy High School students marching to the Sacramento Police Station on Freeport Boulevard.

They marched because five people had been shot, four of them killed, the previous weekend. They began their march after Sacramento Police Chief Albert Najera expressed disappointment that the Hispanic community was not calling city officials complaining that something must be done about the violence.

The participants of the march wanted to send a message that they do care, that the violence is not okay, and that they care about the entire community's safety, not must McClatchy's. They also want the community to know that they are actively committed to community service, and have been for a long time.

These teen-agers are part of Frank and Monica Victorio's Moral Values Program. The students' clothing , attitude and inner-strength is the product of MVP's grooming and educating young people for the past 14 years, saving them from poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and street gangs.

It is not a too-far stretch to compare MVP's work in South Sacramento to the spirit of Mother Teresa's work in Calcutta.

"What we are about," explained Oscar Moreno, a sophomore at McClatchy, "is to give kids someplace to go after school and to keep them off the streets--to give them something else to do other than what they used to do--and to have a family." Teenager Ann Marie Reyes added:

"MVP gave a lot to me. I want to give as much as I can. I don't want to hear about other kids growing up like I did."

It is understandable that the MVP affiliated students express frustration that it took television coverage of the early March walk to the police station to bring attention to the 14 years of MVP's community service, but they are pleased that the public is becoming aware of what MVP is doing now.

"MVP will slowly change the world," says member Rebecca Reyes. "It starts with us."

A visit to the MVP home at 2901 32nd Ave. shows a changed world.

Imagine a group of about 25 kids, ages 8 to 15 years, boys dressed in shirt and tie, girls in Sunday best, sitting quietly around a big table, heads in their books, studying diligently.

Now imagine the entire group standing up, forming a line, and walking up to you, introducing themselves while looking you straight in the eye and shaking your hand.

"Any child who wants to be in the program must maintain a 3.0 GPA," said mentor Frank Victorio, "and they have to dress professionally."

How MVP began

In the mid-1980s, when crank (methamphetamines) took hold in Sacramento, Frank Victorio worked as an interpreter at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center's trauma center.

It was work where the consequences of bad choices left families and friends of victims grief-stricken and bereft.

"there are no morals left," Frank Victorio remembers disconsolate relatives telling him. He decided to do something about it.

He first started a karate/values class in Fair Oaks on Founder's Day. County Supervisor Dave Cox saw him with his group and invited him to the Sacramento County Boy's Ranch juvenile correctional facility.

"We were only supposed to do one show, he said. "There was such a strong reaction to the show that the director asked me if I could come up once a week on a volunteer basis." Frank, his wife, Monica, and daughter Monica all volunteered.

The Boys Ranch noticed a positive change as a result of the Victorios' program. "This wasn't a surprise to me," says Frank, "because if you look at the values we teach--courtesy, perseverance, integrity, self-control, and maintaining an indomitable spirit--that is the forming of what makes a good human being."

One day the Victorio's daughter, then 7 years old, asked her parents why they weren't "getting the kids before they get to Boy's Ranch." The Victorios explained that if they opened their small home it would be around the clock because "kids always have problems and you can't just close the door."

Monica said she didn't care, that she wanted to do it. That marked the beginning of the Moral Values Program as it is known today. Although they continued the martial arts/values program at Boys Ranch for two more years, the Victorios transitioned from that program to the broader program that centers in their home and offers food, housing, educating, and instilling values.

Fourteen years later

Fourteen years have passed and the group that marched to the Freeport Police Station represents some of the elder ambassadors of the program, living proof of what values, structure and love can yield.

This group meets after school and sometimes before school starts. In response to community rumbles heard by the students that MVP is a dressed-up gang that simply wants to miss school, Moreno, the sophomore at McClatchy, stated, "We want to break the stereotype that we are part of MVP to get out of school and that MVP is gang-related."

If anything, MVP is an "antigang" gang.

Moreno also said that the MVP students don't think community action should be taken only when people are killed but that action should be ongoing.

"Just because you don't see us doesn't mean we aren't there," said Ann Marie Reyes, MVP president, referring to MVP's dedication to bettering the community.

Five years ago McClatchy High School called Frank Victoria after a young man was killed in front of the school. McClatchy High School administrators had heard about the positive results of MVP's program.

Working closely with Gema Modina, English Language Coordinator at McClatchy (considered a teacher, mother and friend), the students have worked hard proving that they are ready and willing to serve the community because, as Moreno states, "If we don't, who will?"

MVP is expanding, starting a program at Christo Rey High School and will also be creating a school in Gonzales, near Salinas, at the request of newly appointed Bishop Garcia of Monterey. Currently MVP has placed nine students at Christian Brothers with two graduates this year.

MVP sponsors a community Thanksgiving dinner, "Healthy Holidays," an Easter Egg Hunt, a Fourth of July celebration, neighborhood clean-ups, anti-drug marches, and a "Read-a-Thon Sleepover." In addition, MVP operates a home school charter school, in conjunction with California Virtual Academy, for an average of 55 students from first through eighth grades, with teacher Laura Caruccio.

The homeless are fed on Mondays and Fridays between 1 and 3 p.m. In addition to these local serices, MVP helps people in Africa, the Philippines, India, and Mexico.

Built by community

When Building Industry of America heard about MVP it built a two-story home on the property. (The Victorios had been living in their garage in order to give space to the kids). Last summer Bluehaven Pools donated a swimming pool. John Heintz of JP Heintz Construction Management donated a basketball court. Attorney Bob Buccola donated 12 computers for the classroom.

When Buccola delivered them and toured MVP he decided to do more, whereupon he donated $50,000. MVP's food is donated entirely by Whole Foods.

"We used to hold car washes to raise enough money to feed the kids some dinner. the miracles keep happening," Frank Victorio said.

MVP has gained national and international recognition. In 1999, the Victorios were flown to Atlanta to receive an award from the Foundation for the Improvement of Justice. The "Heroes in education" award was given to MVP by the California State Lottery Commission, followed by a letter of commendation from President Bill Clinton, and a letter from Pope John Paul giving apostolic blessings for MVP's work.

"All the awards and accolades are because of the kids," said Frank Victorio. "I can't say enough about them. They are just great and are proving it."

MVP's motto is "No child in need is ever turned away." Donations of school supplies, professional clothing intended for young people, and cash, are always welcome.