Pedro Escamilla – Showing Kids The Right Way To Go

“If a boat were sinking, Pedro would get everyone off the boat and then clean the thing before it went down,” says Hoppie Campos of Pedro Escamilla. “That’s the kind of guy he is.”

Pedro is the Phoenix Club (grades 6-8) director at the Boys and Girls Club in Chico, CA. Both Hoppie Campos, Area Director for Teen Services, and Jessica Starkey, Area Director for Elementary and Summer Camp Services, have known Pedro since he came to the Boys and Girls Club as a teen in 2003.

He sees opportunities to show kids the right way

Jessica sees Pedro role modeling by inviting kids to come alongside him. “Pedro is very aware of emotional and physical needs,” Jessica says. “He’ll offer to carry a heavy box or open a door, and he always asks the kids, ‘Do you see what I’m doing? Can we do this side by side? I’ll show you how this works.’ He always sees opportunities to show kids the right way to go.”

Having moved about six times before the age of 11, Pedro was ready to find a place to belong. It didn’t take him long to feel at home, and for Pedro, feeling at home doesn’t mean kicking back and relaxing, but rather rolling up his sleeves and getting to work. By the time he turned 18, Pedro had joined the club’s staff and was working with elementary school children.

A safe haven and practical skills

Nationally, The Boys and Girls Club of America exists to “inspire and enable kids to reach their full potential as caring, productive, responsible citizens” through a variety of educational programs. Pedro’s Chico Phoenix Club, for example, offers STEM learning activities, life skill programs, academic support, and programs that develop character and leadership. Youth come from all backgrounds, including complicated home situations and various kinds of trauma. The club offers a safe haven, as well as practical skills to move forward. For more information and to find a local Boys and Girls Club, visit bcga.org.
Since joining staff, Pedro has worked with elementary through high school youth, including youth in juvenile detention. “The biggest thing for me is being a leader in the community in which I was raised,” Pedro says. “I always want to be a consistent role model so kids are able to ask questions and know they have someone they can rely on.”

Patience is Pedro’s key to connect and make a difference

Pedro’s key to making a positive difference for youth starts with one word: patience. The source of his patience is remembering “that every youth comes with their own needs, interests, and background. We have a diverse group, and we always want to support these youth by understanding their stories,” Pedro says. “We can adapt our programs or conversation to connect with wherever a kid is.”
In the past couple of years, Pedro has watched a group of youths he has mentored since first grade graduate from high school. When he received his first paycheck, one boy visited Pedro to express his gratitude: “Thank you for everything I’ve learned from you. I knew I could always ask you a question and you would have an answer to give,” he said.

Having a full community to rely on

Pedro Escamilla describes his joy in seeing this group succeed. “Being at the club is not just members, it’s family too,” Pedro says. “When you create this community around the youth, they succeed. They can break out of the poverty cycle when they know they have a full community they can rely on.”
Always ready to go the extra mile for kids, Pedro has established a tradition of attending every graduation. When COVID prohibited this, Pedro drew on his ingenuity and sense of humor. After collecting graduation photos, Pedro photoshopped himself standing next to every grad, captioning each photo with #itstradition.

Outside of his work at the Club, Pedro spends time with his 13-year-old niece and 7-year-old nephew, both of whom also attend the club. Pedro helps his family run a pottery business Gigi Ceramics, and, in rare quiet moments, he enjoys painting and drawing.

Hoppie says it would be nice to take some credit for the man Pedro Escamilla has become, but that is impossible. “The truth is I’m watching somebody be their original self; I’m seeing someone being and doing exactly where they’re supposed to be, exactly what they’re supposed to do, and doing it well. Pedro’s a special soul, and we’re grateful to have him.”