Mayra Nunez, Director of Operations and Community Impact, STAR/PAL

STAR/PAL’s annual Back to School event is back, Saturday, August 20 from 10am-1pm at the lower parking lot behind Colina Park in City Heights (5249 52nd Place San Diego, CA 92105). Free backpacks and school supplies will be available for community members and families, along with an opportunity to participate in youth activities, a mobile eye clinic, and sports physicals ($20). The Live Well on Wheels (Live WOW) bus will be there to provide valuable resources from the County of San Diego, including nutrition information and healthy recipe demos.  

Backpacks are limited and families need to pre-register to receive a backpack. Contact Mayra at mnunez@starpal.org for event info, backpack registration, or to register for a free community resources booth. 

STAR/PAL, short for Sports Training, Academics, Recreation/Police Athletic League, is a nonprofit organization that provides services to more than 10,000 youth annually in inner-city neighborhoods throughout the City and County of San Diego. STAR/PAL offers free educational, athletic, and recreational programs which focus on promoting youth safety, positive life choices, and academic success.  

Officers from San Diego Police and County Probation Departments work side by side with civilian personnel and trained law enforcement volunteers to provide leadership and mentoring to promote youth safety, highlight opportunities, and encourage academic success. STAR/PAL’s efforts are built around providing mentorship and removing obstacles for youth in historically underserved communities, and on promoting ethical policing and cooperation in the process.  By bringing youth and law enforcement officers together in this manner, STAR/PAL helps build safer communities in the future.   

STAR/PAL offers a variety of programs for youth, including:  

STORY TIME WITH AN OFFICER (GRADES K-5)  

Story Time with an Officer brings a law enforcement officer to your classroom for a shared, positive experience between students and officers. Officers bring and read a picture book to students and stay for a question-and-answer session. Books topics focus on positive character development and sessions last approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour.  

LET’S BE PALS (GRADES 3-5)  

Let’s Be Pals is a bullying prevention curriculum developed for grades three through five. The 5-week curriculum is facilitated by officers for approximately one hour per week. Each lesson plan is designed to equip students with essential knowledge and skills, while keeping them engaged in an interactive lesson.  

For more information, visit StarPal.org.