Jermain graduated from East Central High School, but lost his way for the next year and half.  Out on his own, he found that bad influences and his bills were closing in on him.  He knew he needed to make a change to set his life on better path.  The road led him to San Antonio Youth Centers (SAYC).

Rebuilding houses for low-income families as part of the SAYC's Alamo City YouthBuild program, Jermain gained new friends, new leadership skills and recently graduated from the program with the skills necessary for a job in the construction industry.

Now employed as a YouthBuild Peer Trainer, he shares his newfound home building knowledge with new students.  But he didn't stop there.  SAYC staff helped him enroll in night classes at St. Phillips College where he's earning an associates degree in air conditioning/refrigeration.

Successfully juggling his construction job, night school and his 8-month-old son, J, with his high school sweetheart, Jermain is a good role model for others.  Once on the wrong path, he's now finding his way.

"The staff at Alamo City YouthBuild took me under their wing and gave me opportunities to see other things for my life," Jermain stated.  "I've learned so much -- not just the skills for a trade, but how to be a better person and a better friend," he said.

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San Antonio's Healy-Murphy Center provides compassionate service to youth-in-crisis by focusing on individualized education in a non-traditional setting, early childhood development and essential support services. Healy-Murphy was the first alternative center accredited in the State of Texas, and as many as 25 percent of the current students are homeless.

Healy-Murphy students, generally between ages 14 and 18, are referred from throughout Bexar County. Self-paced courses are geared toward either a GED or high school diploma.  Sonia, Joanna and Lorraine concentrate on their English assignment.

Healy-Murphy's diploma program offers young people the opportunity to complete high school in a non-traditional atmosphere with individualized instruction.  Benjamin (left front) works on his science lesson with instructor, V. Yadon.

Congratulations to Healy-Murphy graduate, Veronica (left). Roosevelt (right) is Healy-Murphy's 2007 University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) scholarship recipient. As part of the scholarship guidelines, he is attending St. Phillips College for two years prior to transferring to UIW. Each year between 60-70% of Healy-Murphy's students progress to higher education, the remainder enter the military or full-time employment.

Fifty percent of Healy-Murphy's students are either pregnant or parenting, and the Healy-Murphy Child Development Center creates a warm and happy place where their children, ages four weeks to five years, can learn.  The State of Texas recently honored the center with the Texas School Readiness award.  In this photo, Monique, a Healy-Murphy caregiver (right), enjoys activities with Dia and her two little friends.

The Healy-Murphy Center Child Development Center provides on-site child care, child development classes as well as health screenings.  Schedules are designed to balance structure and free choice, as well as active and quiet times. In the photo above, Margavion takes a break from his busy day of learning.

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Judy Ratlief, principal of Pershing Elementary School, was recently named Texas "Principal of the Year" by Communities in Schools, a United Way partner agency serving more than 6,000 students at 52 schools across San Antonio.

Former Spur George "The Iceman" Gervin (right) has been named Honorary Chairman of the Bexar County Blue Ribbon Task Force, a local child abuse prevention coalition. Task Force founder and chair, Senator Carlos Uresti (left), also announced the extension of the child abuse prevention billboard campaign, supported by Clear Channel Outdoor.

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