Jason Hayes is a graduate from LA Conservation Corps’ EcoAcademy high school diploma program At only 17 years old, Jason Hayes is well on his way to becoming one of the men he learns about in the “Real Men Class” he attends at LA Conservation Corps’ EcoAcademy. Jason says the class has taught him about the importance of personal responsibility and the consequences that can result without it, like drug addiction and homelessness. He credits the impact of the class to its creator, Mr. Rickey Pitts, who speaks from personal experience as a former gang member. “Mr. Pitts tells us how it is,” Jason says.

Jason has had challenges of his own to overcome living in gang territory.  When he first moved to Los Angeles, he tried attending Washington High School. After two weeks he got a job and took a few friends out to celebrate. While at lunch, some local gang members accused Jason of making derogatory comments about their neighborhood. As Jason tells the story now, he lowers his eyes and will only say that next he “got into some trouble.” After that day, gang members tried attacking Jason three times on his way to and from school.   Jason started to suffer from stress headaches and began struggling in school. He was ready to drop out when he met Mr. Pitts, who inspired him not to give up on his education and enroll at LA Conservation Corps EcoAcademy. The feeling of safety and one-on-one tutoring he received motivated him to continue his studies. “There is not a day you want to miss at this school,” Jason says. Since then, Mr. Pitts has encouraged Jason to serve as an advisor to the younger students.  He takes being a role model seriously, and is focusing on earning his high school diploma and not getting in trouble by spending his free time in an after school study group and working at a Foot Locker store. Now, Jason confidently tells the younger students, “You have to get your high school diploma to know how much potential you have, and you have to get more than a high school diploma to show people you have more than high school standards.”