Parents bring 'Faith and Hope' to special youth

Participants of Faith and Hope showcase their talent each Friday at El Paseo Mall. 

By Alfredo Santana

The night’s chilling temperatures did not deter Julio Gomez, who lives with autism, from singing the lyrics of Spanish pop artist Marc Anthony’s  “Vivir mi vida”, as he has crooned this and other songs every Friday evening at El Paseo Mall in South Gate since last September.

Gomez showed his vocal prowess at a 6 to 9 p.m. outdoors gathering organized by parents of young adults and children with disabilities, in a patio dotted with metal chairs and tables near the Mexican restaurant La Mejor Deli and Market, as part of the motivational program Faith and Hope (Fe y Esperanza).

Gomez and about 30 other youth whose ages range from 15 to 25 years, tuned and sang tracks from a wide spectrum of musical genres: they sang hip-hop tunes, Whitney Houston ballads and at least one Mexican corrido.

 “The fact that they are brave enough to step up in front of the crowd, and sing with a microphone is a triumph for them,” said Maria Yolanda Hernandez, whose daughter Brenda also has a disability called hypothyroidism, which causes her body to produce less vital hormones than needed. “It’s like the theater reenactment of the birth of Jesus. The sole fact of mounting it is fabulous.”

Huddled in groups of four and five people, and armed with thick coats and wool blankets to brave 40 degrees Farenheight temperatures, about 30 parents and next of kin applauded and chanted along the artists’ lyrics, whose music blared out from a set of loudspeakers and a console controlled by Rosendo Hernandez, the night’s disk jockey.

Clad with a red and white sports jacket, Rosendo, 26, who has a mild form of autism, said he loves to cue music tracks, because he believes this event encourages youth with disabilities to unfold artistic talents they cannot try at home.

“I barely started in September my work as DJ. The parents of Faith and Hope picked me, and to tell you the truth, I am trying. I was in another program, but I’m way happier here. We want all people with different abilities to come down to listen to us, and to be part of the event,” Rosendo said.

Faith and Hope co-founder Isaura Macias said the concept to showcase special youth’s singing abilities branched out of a similar effort staged in another mall in the city of Lynwood, but parents who live near South Gate felt it was time to organize an event that would reel in more participants from nearby cities.

“The one in Lynwood has been going on for about five years. It’s been great, but we wanted to reach out to families who live near Los Angeles to be part of this event,” said Macias, whose son Daniel was diagnosed with autism.

Maria Yolanda Hernandez said Faith and Hope offers special youth an artistic platform to develop social and personal skills, and projects a positive and inclusive image for those who are in the lineup.

“We want to incorporate them in daily activities as normal and socially as possible. When they come up onstage, they reinforce their self-esteem and develop skills many of us are afraid to try, or don’t have. We also watch that some of them tune in good to what they sign, and the experience expose them to different challenges that would help them in their lives,” said Maria Yolanda.

 Jorge Garcia, a 23-year-old participant, who attended the event after he finished his work shift as UPS delivery assistant, said the doors are open for all who want to try out their hidden abilities as singers, either in English or Spanish.

“This event is good for those who want to have fun and have a good time after work, so that youth and their families come out and meet different people,” said Garcia, wearing a brown cap and shorts, as part of his uniform. “Often, my mother tags along with me.”