TJJD News & Announcements

HARLINGEN, Texas – Students from Edna Tamayo Halfway House and Harlingen High School’s Ruben Trevino helped the Harlingen Rotary Club raise $40,000 dollars for Loaves and Fishes at an event Feb. 27, 2018.  Loaves & Fishes is one of those few organizations that cut across every ethnic, cultural and socio-economic barrier here in Harlingen Texas.  Loaves and Fishes offers food, shelter, job training and placement for the city of Harlingen and surrounding areas.  The students from Tamayo House sold tickets and cooked more than 1500 lbs. of shrimp. People at the site complimented the youth for their contributions, saying  "We would not have done this in one day without the students of Tamayo House."

HARLINGEN, Texas – On November 10, 2017 and November 16, 2017, the Tamayo House Students were able to help serve food to the community at two HEB Feast of Sharing 2017 events. One was held in Willacy and the other was held in Cameron County.   At the Willacy county event, 4 students helped serve over 4,000 people.  At the Harlingen event over 15,000 people were served with the help of 15 students  from Tamayo House on two different shifts.  The students enjoyed serving their community and enjoyed the great food!

HARLINGEN, Texas – On May 30, 2017, the Edna Tamayo House was visited by Becky Lee Meza, who portrayed young Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 movie Selena. Meza told her life story and shared how she pulled herself out of poverty, being a victim of bullying as a teen, and turning to drugs and away from her family to cope with these problems. Meza shared with the boys how finding a spiritual solution, helping others, and turning her back on negative influences in her life helped her change and become the successful person she is today. She was very inspirational, positive and uplifting. The boys where excited to have a star come and talk with them and were very respectful and attentive while she gave her talk.

HARLINGEN, Texas – When Tamayo House Community Services Coordinator and Human Services Specialist IV Ruben Trevino was unable to obtain a Global Youth Services Day mini-grant to feed the homeless in Harlingen, he didn’t take “no” for an answer. Ruben, who has been with TJJD for more than 20 years, approached the local Sam’s Club and was able to get $250 worth of food donated to the Local Loaves and Fishes. On April 7, Ruben and Tamayo House youth, along with six volunteers, were able to prepare, cook, and feed 365 needy people with a sandwich lunch plate and spaghetti dinner. The crew performed more than 300 hours of community service, an opportunity that never would have happened if Ruben had taken “no” for an answer. PHOTO: 365 community residents were fed because of the determination of  TJJD’s Ruben Trevino.

Parole Officer Ricardo Leal is retiring in October 2017 after 35 years of service to the state and the juvenile justice field. He began his career with the former Texas Youth Commission in 1983, serving as a youth activity supervisor at the Giddings State School, Tamayo Halfway House and Beto Halfway House. In 1994, Ricardo made the change to become a parole officer, a position he has held for the past 24 years. Ricardo said many of his best memories are meeting young men and women who he once supervised that are now living productive lives in the community. "I’ve had 35- to 45-year-old men and women approach me in the community, introducing me to their families and sharing their life stories," he said. "After those conversations, they’ll ask if I recognize them. Some of them are now in the medical, educational or law enforcement fields." Ricardo said some of the biggest changes he’s seen during his career revolve around technology and the ability to...

HARLINGEN, Texas – Tamayo House celebrated Red Ribbon week in November by celebrating the hashtag #YOLO! “You only live once, live it drug free.” Each day, the youth where reminded about being drug free with ribbons, bookmarks and a #YOLO party at the end of the week. During the week, four boys from Tamayo House volunteered to share their personal stories at two middle schools in the community. They reached over 300 students with their message of choosing a drug-free life. Several of boys commented they were nervous speaking to so many people but in the end hoped they made a difference in someone’s life. Photo: Four Tamayo House youth share their personal stories at a local middle school.