Transform teens who have family in prison

POPS the Club creates community and offers light and love to hundreds of students in classrooms across Los Angeles—and beyond.

Among those who seek nourishment, nurturing and inspiration at POPS the Club are teens with undocumented families--some of whom have twice lost family members, first to detention, then to deportation.

During her senior year in high school, Valeria De La Torre first began to attend POPS meetings at Venice High School. Valeria is a Dreamer, and she came to POPS, she said, because her classmates had opened up about their own experiences with incarceration. Their openness inspired her. She loved the way the room felt so safe. From day one, she felt a community coming together as she describes it, “with love and support and understanding.”

POPS helped me become comfortable and able to speak about my struggles,” Valeria says. “I would like people to know that POPS is an awesome organization that helps young people grow—whether it’s through writing or drawing or just listening. POPS helps young people feel free to take action in their lives.

Valeria graduated from high school in 2016. Since that time she has been attending college and working and recently completed an internship at Kaiser Permanente as part of her involvement with Year Up. She credits POPS with introducing her to many of the amazing people she has met, including those at Year Up. And she credits POPS with giving her the confidence to share her own story. Since she first wrote and published her poem in the third POPS collection Before there Were Bars, she has shared her work on stages across Los Angeles in her effort to inspire and support others. 

One in 15 children in the United States has or has had a parent in prison.

Your gift today will help us to provide light, love and voice to young women like Valeria who wrote this poem. 

I Come from a Place I Once Didn’t Know

I come from a place I once didn’t know

The place I was born, down south across the border.

One day I asked my mom when we could go visit.

She said, “There’s no way back after.”

I come from 14% of K-12 undocumented students

Who want to pursue the American Dream.

I come from every teardrop

I’ve seen roll down my mother’s cheek

Because the vision of that dream

Isn’t always bright.

I come from a country I don’t know

But wish one day to

Go back and meet

Thank you for your support!