Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department Chief Executive Officer Tommy Ramirez is shown (above) outside the Harlingen Outreach Center Monday. A student is also seen studying at the facility as well as other scenes from the center. (Staff photos by Michael Rodriguez)
By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
HARLINGEN – Since its recent inception, the Harlingen Outreach Center formally known as The Bridge has reported various numbers, all of which represent landmark accomplishments for the project.
Thirteen, for example, is the number of non-profit organizations currently operating inside the center; 19,224 is the amount in square footage the facility occupies, and 155,000 (an approximate estimation) is the dollar figure in which local contributors donated – be it monetarily or in-kind – to see the project come to pass. Such contributions range from pro-bono consultation work from SpawGlass to Dr. Juan Villarreal of Harlingen Family Dentistry raising $25,000 to sponsor Gail Thomason, who offers a wellness program at the center.
But for Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department Chief Executive Officer Tommy Ramirez, who’s charged with operating and maintaining the center, it’s the number 250 that perhaps represents the most significant progress. That is the number of at-risk young adults from all over the county who completed at least one of the services offered at the center – 94 of whom, for instance, have earned their GED through the Gulf Coast Trade Center.
Besides Gulf Coast, other services offered at the center include a boxing program by RGV Golden Gloves (headed by Abel Fonseca of San Benito), youth ministries by Save Our Streets Ministries, parole services by the Texas Youth Commission, drug and alcohol counseling by Narconon, multiple counseling services by the Valley Aids Council, health services by the Cameron County Health Department, wellness programs by Harlingen Family Dentistry, vocational training by Job Corp, job readiness by Workforce Solutions Cameron, a law enforcement presence by a Harlingen police substation, probation services by the Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department, and a community room to be utilized for a number of different functions.
Now a veritable one-stop shop for everything outreach, the center’s beginnings actually stemmed from humble roots. According to Ramirez, the idea came to him after speaking with local officials and dignitaries, from church pastors to law enforcement authorities, who long contemplated a means of reversing the trend of rising gang activity and high dropout rates in the county. It wasn’t until the old Harlingen Police Department became available, however, that Ramirez saw an opening.
In short, Ramirez succeeded in acquiring the property from the City of Harlingen for $1 a year for the next 20 years.
The rest is history.
Today, the facility has enjoyed over $100,000 worth of improvements and additions, the evidence of which is visible on the center floors.
“If you notice, every room has different colored carpet, that’s because they were donated to us,” Ramirez said. “But it works, somehow.” With 13 different agencies operating under one roof – and each of them unique – the center somehow works, too.
It’s a youth hangout when kids want to see a movie, lift weights, try their hand at boxing, or merely socialize. One can also work toward their GED, be counseled, receive prayer, or look for a job.
“The whole concept behind this vision that I had was to bring all the services that we could possibly get in there into one,” Ramirez said. “This would unite services together. That way, for any youth or individual who needed to get back on track we would offer that at the center.”
For more information on the Harlingen Outreach Center, call (956) 412-8883, 412-8881, or 412-0191.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the Aug. 3 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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