by Fernando Vasquez  Coordinator, Youth Outreach

The Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center wants to thank you for allowing us to be part of the Horses in the Hood program for five days with the Korean-Americans.  You presented a unique plan to combine two cultures from communities that historically have not been able to interact with each other.  A Korean-American group and an African-American group would join together at horse camp. I know from living and working in Watts, that a connection like this is exactly what needs to be done in order to initiate positive interaction amongst African-Americans and Korean Americans.

Located in the Watts darkgreenevelopment area, the Kaiser Watts Center primarily serves low-income, underserved city residents who live within a six-mile radius.  Since the 1992 Los Angeles riots, tension has grown between African-Americans and the Korean business owners. 

Our Watts participants are receiving the following services, one-on-one counseling, educational therapy, advocacy, and family counseling.  Many of our children live in the Jordan-Downs Public Housing projects and many are from single parent families.

I had the opportunity to observe the interaction and growth that occurdarkgreen throughout the five days. I could see that the first day was a little uncomfortable for both groups but as soon as they were assigned their boots and their helmets that quickly faded. The real day of "contact," as I call, it came on the third day when I observed one of my students and his Korean-American partner sitting next to each other, laughing and talking.  I knew then that the program had served its purpose, it had brought two kids from different cultural backgrounds together and made them into “just two kids.” It was a wonderful sight to see them not just talking, but sitting next to each other like friends.  Other kids made contact throughout the rest off the day as they saw these two having a good time laughing and playing with each other. The fourth day and the fifth day I could sense that nobody really felt uncomfortable or uneasy working with their assigned horses and partners.

All of this has created some real positive results in the kids who are in our counseling and educational programs. For example, I was told by one of the educational therapist that her client seems to be more responsive and attentive in his therapy sessions. A few of our horse camp participants are receiving educational therapy due to diagnosed learning disabilities. Many of them are reading at least a few grades below their grade level.

The interaction with horses and the Korean-Americans certainly gave them a new exposure to life and especially to new and different people. This was certainly a unique opportunity, in a completely safe environment that brought two diverse cultural groups together.   We are always delighted to be chosen to participate in Horses in the Hood’s camps. Our children had so many good things to say to their parents and their counselors and we can see the delight in their faces. We look forward to participating again, and again, because I know first hand the impact that this program has on our children.                                  

 Again, thank you so very much.

Many people walk in and out of my life but only true friends leave footprints in my heart. The footprints of the "Horses in the Hood' camp were from the Korean and African American youth who met, rode and became friends during the camp experience.  The adults also made friends. 

I was pleased to become friends with Fernando Vasquez, a counselor from the Kaiser Permanente Watts Counseling and Learning Center.  The Kaiser Permanente Center and the Korean Interstate Children's Mission Center are planning more activities together.

When my business at Vermont and Washington was burned down in the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, I stood on the ashes and cried "Why me!" Now I smile and thank God for His mercy In choosing me to help the 18 children come together in the "Horses in the Hood" camp program. I have been excited about this because I have been dreaming about creating a human harmony program since the 1992 Riots.

At the camp, I was so happy to see the children all together, learning how to take care of the horses before riding, while riding, and after riding.

The Korean kids were so happy to talk about how they were learning about horses. We can make our team, our circle of friends, regardless of race and color. We are all brothers and sisters who have a same Father.

Learning is the best process of our life time. We can learn something from each other today and come closer together tomorrow.