A new path forward: One man's journey out of the juvenile justice system to mentorship
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Herrera's name has appeared in the news before, most recently after he accepted a plea deal related to a violent incident nearly four years ago. At just 18, he was charged with kidnapping his girlfriend and firing shots at her home. It was the latest in a string of run-ins with the law that began when he was 15.
'There's a lot of things I wish I never had done,' Herrera said. 'A lot of things to this day I feel embarrassed about.'
Growing up in a violent environment and to a single mother trying to make ends meet, Herrera said he lacked the guidance and support he needed to make better choices. 'It was hard for me to live out here and be young with all this violence going on around me,' he said. 'Ever since I was young, I've experienced violence.'
But Herrera's story is now taking a different turn, thanks in large part to La Plazita Institute, a local nonprofit that works with at-risk youth. The organization provides mentorship, community support, and alternatives to incarceration for young people who they say often feel abandoned by the system.
'They're going to get out eventually,' said Erik Rivera with La Plazita, 'So making people whole and taking care of everyone involved is how we make our community safer.'
La Plazita's programs focus on healing and accountability. Youth are encouraged to give back through food drives, art projects, and community service. The goal is to build a network of support that helps them stay out of trouble—and feel safe doing so.
'That's why they trust us,' said Xuiy Soto, a mentor at La Plazita. 'That's why they come back. Because community is here all the time. And we look like them. That's the biggest thing. I look like the youth I'm serving. They know our struggles are similar.'
La Plazita also partners with Justice4Youth, a coalition of more than 20 organizations working together to provide alternatives to incarceration and promote long-term success for young people.
'How can we all continually work together to provide alternatives for our youth?' Soto said. 'So they don't have to go to systems anymore, and they can come to their community where we can provide healing and success for them
Today, Herrera is not only a participant in the program—he's also a mentor. He now works at La Plazita, helping guide others through the same challenges he once faced. His motivation? His 2½-year-old son.
'For me, the most important thing is to be present for my son,' Herrera said. 'I've done everything that was asked of me because I don't want my son growing up seeing his father in prison.'
For more information on La Plazita Institute, click this link.
For more information on Justice4Youth, you can click this link.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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