In August, the Health and Human Service Commission, the Texas System of Care, and the Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department coordinated a Rio Grande Valley Anti-Stigma speaking tour with former Evins Regional Juvenile Center resident and now TCJC (Texas Criminal Justice Coalition) Board member Jason Wang. Jason shared his personal story of growing up in an abusive and poverty-stricken home and turning to a life of crime as his way of coping. He spoke words of encouragement and inspiration to youth and families involved with the juvenile justice system by highlighting his goals and accomplishments in an effort to eliminate the stigma attached to adolescents in the justice system.
Jason visited facilities in both Cameron and Hidalgo counties and dedicated an entire day to speak to youth and families at Evins Regional Juvenile Center, Edna Tamayo Halfway House, and the Harlingen District Office.
The Harlingen District Office would like to recognize the Harlingen Outreach Center, Baptist Children Family Services (BCFS), Gary Job Corps, Evins Regional Volunteer Council, and volunteer/mentor Esteban Sanchez for their support and contributions and especially the families of the Rio Grande Valley for attending and joining the Anti-stigma Campaign to create positive change. The families left the presentation with newfound hope for their sons and daughters.
I Was One of Them
This story by Evins Community Relations Coordinator Fidel Garcia details Jason Wang’s visit to the Evins Regional Juvenile Center.
As the juvenile judge echoed the words out, "because of your actions and in the best interest of yourself and the community, it is the opinion and decision of this court that you be remanded to serve 12 years in state custody," Jason Wang could not believe what had just happened nor that he would ever get out of the Juvenile Justice System, which had just handed him the biggest shock of his life.
"I won’t lie to you, but when I got back to my cell at the county juvenile center, I cried and cried," said Jason, a former (TYC) TJJD student at the Evins Regional Juvenile Center facility. "I lived this life," he told a group of students gathered to hear his testimonial. "I was right here wearing the same shoes and uniform that you all are wearing. I was one of you," he said.
Sparing no details, Jason detailed his younger years living in Iowa, growing up, and moving to Texas. His parents were immigrants and worked long hours and he attributes this to his father’s temperament and physical abuse. "Growing up I was abused a lot by my father," he said. His father was always working late hours and wanted things done a certain way. With that, came the beatings. "I could never do enough," he said. Eventually his parents divorced and they moved to Texas. His mother knew he was getting into trouble but not the kind of trouble that he was headed for. Drugs and burglary to sustain his life style eventually opened the gate to juvenile state custody.
"What was worst for me was seeing my mother see me get arrested at our home after she had worked a 12-hour shift," Jason said. His life had swirled out of control and there was nothing he could do to contain it. "My mom had to take out all of her life savings to help me get an attorney. She always stood by my side, no matter what."
In a short period of time he narrated how he grew up in a family that came into the United States as immigrants. Soon after moving to Texas he started getting tangled with the wrong crowd; hustling, gambling, and using illegal drugs. One day he and his friends took it too far and burglarized a home and assaulted the homeowners. "We had a plan and we were going to execute it," Jason said. Once he got arrested, he realized his nightmare had just begun at the age of 15. For the next three years, Jason would wake up at 5 a.m. in a juvenile institution hundreds of miles away from home. One of them was Evins Regional Juvenile Center and the other one was Giddings State School, both facilities of the former Texas Youth Commission (now the Texas Juvenile Justice Department).
Fast forward 10 years and Jason finds himself right back at Evins where it all began. Except this time, he is free to leave when he pleases and he is here to offer words of encouragement, praise, and will power to juvenile offenders.
"I want youth to be able to do something positive for themselves, their families, and community," Jason said. "When I was locked up, my friends didn’t visit me. It was always my family, yet, it was my friends that got me here," he said. When he left TJJD, he hung out less with his friends and more with his family. This was a turning point in his life.
Jason enrolled in college and he told youth gathered around him that just like he and his friends had a plan for the armed robbery that night, "it also takes a plan for you to get out of here and move on with your future." Jason recounted his stay at Evins and how he and several youth would round up stray cats and hide them in the locker of the dorm. "We would bring milk from the café and feed it to them."
Jason also recounted how he had started a GED study program while at Evins. "We were hungry, hungry for knowledge and to learn and when someone took the time to teach us something, things took a positive turn." Jason’s message was right on cue and to the point. When one youth asked him if he would hire him at his business, Jason replied that it depends on him and if he would be willing to earn a position with the company. He politely asked the youth when his release date was and the youth replied that he was copping out. Jason replied, "Oh, no, don’t do that. That would signify failure and that you didn’t work the program. People want to hire people who want to work and not those that want to give up. Leaving before you are ready, only means you’ll be coming right back."
Speaking with youth, Jason recounted how volunteers had made an impact on his life. He remembered the volunteer that taught him lessons from the Bible, which inspired Jason to create a bible study within his dorm.
Jason also had words for staff that work with the youth day in and day out.
"I didn’t realize it at the time, but I didn’t appreciate the work that you all do. It’s a really tough job. It doesn’t’ get any easier and it’s hard to see the fruits of your labor, but I want you guys to know that what you are doing is important, that it doesn’t happen overnight, but holding these kids accountable and doing the great work that you do is truly making a difference. At the end of the day it is for something. These guys will remember it and whether or not they choose to do right in life or they choose to keep going down their path, you are a big part of who they are."
One youth who was part of the audience and has been at TJJD for a little over a year, summed it up when he said, "He (Jason) was in my shoes. He gave me motivation. Everything he did, I did. He is the helping kind. If he can do it, I can do it."
Since his release, Jason has graduated from UT Dallas with a double masters (MBA, International Business), has raised over a quarter million dollars in private funding for non-profits, serves on the board of directors for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, is featured in the hit documentary, Chasing Bonnie and Clyde, and is the CEO and Founder of Byte Size Moments, a company that leverages technology to foster positive relationships between loved ones. Jason was also scheduled to speak to youth at Tamayo House and Harlingen Parole later on that same day.
The visit was part of a series of events for the Anti-Stigma campaign coordinated and co-sponsored by Shannon Moreno, Mental Health Equity Coordinator, Center for the Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities, David McClung, Texas Institute for Excellence’s Texas System of Care, Evelyn Zaragosa, Texas Institute for Excellence’s ACCEPT Program, Rose M. Gomez, Deputy Chief Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department, and the Evins Volunteer Council.
PHOTO: Jason Wang