By Luis Chacon, CYM

(Los Angeles, California) – This past Saturday morning, August 23, at Dockweiler State Beach, we witnessed something extraordinary. Thirty of our youth from across Boyle Heights and beyond were learning to surf. It was their very first time.

Thanks to the Black Surfers Collective, dirigido por Marie Rachal, our young people— from the Centro Juvenil de la Familia Salesiana representing St. Mary’s Parish, St. Isabel Parish, Bravo Medical Magnet, Roosevelt High School, Salesian High School, our Girl Scouts troop, and even summer camp counselors—took to the ocean with courage and joy. For many, it was a transformative moment.

What stood out most was the pure disbelief and excitement on their faces as they stood up on the surfboards and rode the white water. Many said they never imagined surfing could be for them. In that moment, barriers fell—the myth that surfing is only for a small segment of society was broken.

The mission of the Salesian Family Youth Center is straightforward: to empower young people to see and realize their full potential. Sometimes, all it takes is exposure to a new sport or activity to unlock a belief in what’s possible. They just need someone to open the door, believe in them, and give them the chance to rise higher than they thought they could.

Moments like these remind us: when community, opportunity, and belief come together, our youth discover they can do the unimaginable—on the waves, and in life. 🌊✨