At Sierra Conservation Center (SCC) in Jamestown, incarcerated mentors seek to transform lives inside as well as beyond the facility.
The program, known as SEEK (Striving to Educate and Empower Kids), harnesses the lived experiences of incarcerated individuals to mentor at-risk youth through an education- and empowerment-based approach.
Unlike traditional so-called scared straight programs, Joanna Tedder wrote this program in 2015. It focuses on building trust, promoting self-reflection, and fostering informed decision-making. With the support of Administration, the SEEK mentors operate in SCC non-designated programming facilities A, B, and C. This unique environment, combined with the Wake-Up program by the Modesto Police Department, is creating a space for growth, learning, and connection.
Many of SEEK’s mentors were incarcerated as teenagers themselves. This shared background allows them to speak to youth with authenticity while being relatable, making their guidance more impactful. These mentors use their own experiences not as cautionary tales but as pathways to show what is possible when one makes empowered choices.
SEEK mentor says diversion program is healing
Johnny Sierra, now formerly incarcerated as of this year, served on the Executive body of SEEK for several years. He has been a mentor since 2015 and was instrumental with the implantation of SEEK to the lower-level facilities.
“Working with the juvenile diversion program became the mirror I never knew I needed,” said Sierra. “Through guiding young hearts, I began to uncover my own. In their innocence, I found the grace to heal, the strength to face myself and the wisdom to walk in the world with empathy, truth and a voice I was no longer afraid to use.”
Ultimately, SEEK is a model of what’s possible when rehabilitation meets purpose. By providing incarcerated individuals with the opportunity to give back and by equipping youth with knowledge and support, SEEK bridges generational gaps, planting seeds of hope where needed. The program emphasizes a better future is possible, while also teaching the realities and consequences of poor decision-making.
One distinguishing feature? SEEK is co-educational, a rarity among youth diversion programs in a correctional setting. The program is also known for its flexibility and resilience, being led by its dedicated sponsor Stephanie Pike, materials and stories supervisor, along with committed volunteers Joanna and Chris Tedder.
Submitted by Lt. Ruben S. Jauregui
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