*This is a special feature from the City of San José, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
“If you can believe in yourself, no one’s going to stop you just because they see that tattoo on you,” said #PRNSBest Mario Maciel, Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) Division Manager, which includes San José Youth Empowerment Alliance (SJYEA). “We’re going to clean that up, and the future is yours.”

Seated in front of him were this year’s #PRNSBest Clean Slate graduates, who were about to walk across stage, taking steps toward their own fresh new start.

The Class of 2024 celebrates Clean Slate’s 30th anniversary!

Maciel, who had just received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his years of contribution, unwavering commitment, and outstanding leadership to the program, was giving his thank you speech and recalling his history with Clean Slate.

“I’ve seen kids graduate from this program I didn’t even recognize,” Maciel recalled. “One time I had to get a ligament put in my knee, and the young nurse who put me to sleep said to me ‘Mr. Maciel, remember me? I was in Cohort Three!’”

As a driving force behind Clean Slate since its early stages, Maciel became a valuable asset for his relatability with participants, as he too was a troubled youth once and underwent the same processes for Clean Slate.

“I was just a brown kid from the East Side who got in a lot of trouble,” Maciel said. “But some people believed in me and doors were open.”

Mary Benson, the founder of Clean Slate, was one of those believers.

While volunteering in San José’s east side in the 90’s, Benson became aware of gang activities destroying lives and realized something had to be done.

While developing the Clean Slate plan she immediately recognized Maciel’s potential through his background and knew he was the one for the job. Who would better represent a community than one of their very own?

With the support and approval of former San José Mayor Susan Hammer and City leadership, Clean Slate started with the intent to aid troubled youth as well as victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.

Graduates were personally congratulated by Benson and Maciel onstage.

Thirty years later, Clean Slate continues to grow and help change the lives of participants in need.

Initially, participants spend hours of classes focusing on job development and education opportunities. The young men and women then advance to the next stage of the program – tattoo-removal – opening more opportunities for them, the same opportunities as Maciel.

By removing their tattoos, these young individuals can become whatever more they want to be – whether a nurse, a City program manager, or perhaps even a Councilmember one day.

Benson presenting Maciel with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thanks to leaders like Maciel and Benson, the program’s partnership with the Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center, and the perseverance of participants to make a change, Clean Slate has been and will continue to be a beacon of hope in the City of San José.

To learn more about Teen Center locations and registration, visit sanjoseca.gov/sjyea.

The ActivateSJ Strategic Plan is the City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) plan to maintain, improve and expand our facilities, programs, and services. The plan guides how we care for and develop a diverse park system and an abundance of recreation programs and services for all in San José.

ActivateSJ’s mission is to connect people through parks, recreation, and neighborhood services for an active San José. To learn more about our department’s plan and vision to move forward, visit activatesj.org.