ALMA
ALMA works alongside the TRU (Tobacco Reality Unfiltered) and the TRAIL (Taking Responsible Actions In Life) programs in order to promote healthy decision making in Latino youth. In particular, ALMA focuses on helping Kannapolis teens make healthy choices in life by providing positive peer mentors and serving as health advocates in the community.
The 2009–2010 ALMA high school mentors group is currently made up of 9 students from Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City High Schools. These mentors represent some of the most driven and service oriented students in the county. They have received continuous training in a variety of health topics and contributed hundreds of hours of community service so far.
ALMA, which means "soul" in Spanish, is passionate about helping improve the health of the Latino community through education, service, and positive role models. The ALMA teens have chosen the following quote as a motto for this year:
"The point is not to repay kindness but to pass it on" –Julia Alvarez, Latin American Author
Contact Information
Gina Gonzalez Hofert
704–920–1291
gghofert@cabarrushealth.org
So who is ALMA?
Marie:
Hi everyone, I'm Marie! I'm 17 yrs. Old, and I attend Hickory Ridge High School. I always like trying new things, meeting new people, and am truly proud to be a Young Latina. Everyone has the power to make a change; all you have to do is strive.
Frank:
I am a senior at A.L. Brown High School who loves playing baseball. My life experiences have taught me many valuable lessons and have made me who I am today. I am Frank Villa, a respectful, laidback, and confident teenager who considers God to be number one in his life.
Stephanie:
My name is Stephanie Barraza, and I am a student at CCHS. I am Colombian & Honduran. I am very devoted in the things I do, and I love helping the community.
Jessica:
My name is Jessica Pacheco and I go to Concord High School. I am passionate and dedicated at what I do. And I believe that everyone has the right to share their thoughts.
Joseph:
I am just me, nobody else. I live for life and always try to be better than the day before, always trying to do right by others and expect nothing in return. When times get tough, I always remember it's not how many times you fall, it's how many times you get back up; it's what keeps me accomplishing my goals.
–Joseph C.–
Henry:
I'm very humble and always willing to help out anyone with a need. I'm very intelligent, unique, honest and trustworthy. I want to change the world into a safer, happier, and motivated world.
Bianca:
I am a very intellectual, logical thinker that loves debating on important issues. I also love helping people and one of my major goals in life is to be selfless. I am very optimistic, and I think everyone should be equal and everyone deserves being loved.
Pablo:
The best thing you can do is give a hand to the needy. I enjoy helping out people in need. It just gives me the greatest feeling knowing that I was part of making people better. The loving heart is the best heart in the world, and I'm proud to say I have that.
–pablo (Paulino Sanchez)
