California Men’s Service Challenge Brings Mentorship, Purpose and Opportunity to Anaheim Youth

LAPost/Anaheim, Calif. — On May 13, the Anaheim Fire & Rescue North Net Training Center became the backdrop for a powerful gathering focused on mentorship, public service and the future of young men in California. State and local leaders, firefighters, educators, nonprofit organizations and community mentors came together for the California Men’s Service Challenge, an initiative encouraging young men to serve their communities while exploring educational and career pathways.

Among those attending the event were Josh Fryday, GO-Serve Director and California Chief Service Officer; Avelino Valencia; Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Leon; Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem David Penaloza; Anaheim Fire & Rescue Chief Patrick Russell; Keith Matay, Chief Strategic Growth Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire; and Marcus Strother of MENTOR California.

The event featured a resource fair and hands-on demonstrations from Anaheim Fire & Rescue, Discovery Cube Orange County and Caltrans. More than 100 young men between the ages of 16 and 21 participated, engaging directly with first responders, employers, entrepreneurs, mentors and elected officials while learning about career, technical training and volunteer opportunities.

The atmosphere was energetic and welcoming — filled with music, interactive activities, fire service demonstrations and conversations about leadership and purpose. But beyond the excitement, organizers repeatedly emphasized one message: service matters.

Josh Fryday described the event as more than a career exploration opportunity. He said it was also a call for young men to step forward and contribute to their communities.

“We need men to step up to serve,” Fryday said. “They can serve as mentors, coaches, teachers, firefighters — there are so many ways to give back. Young men have a lot to offer, and our communities need them.”

Fryday explained that the California Men’s Service Challenge aims to recruit 10,000 men across California by the end of 2026 to participate in mentorship, volunteerism and community service. More than 5,000 people have already joined the initiative.

“A lot of young people are searching for purpose,” he said. “Service can help them find that path.”

Assemblymember Avelino Valencia said the initiative transcends race, ethnicity and background, calling it a conversation every community should take part in.

“We need everyone to support young men — Latino, Black, Asian, Chinese, everyone,” Valencia said. “If we focus on giving more to society than we take from it, that creates a ripple effect that strengthens our communities.”

Valencia, who arrived early and spent much of the day engaging with participants, described the Anaheim event as an important starting point for broader statewide efforts. He also noted that the California State Assembly has established a special committee focused on creating pathways and opportunities for young men through long-term policy solutions.

Marcus Strother emphasized that mentorship itself is a skill that must be cultivated intentionally.

“We want adults to understand how to build relationships with young people, how to connect with them and support them,” Strother said. “Today is not only about introducing careers in public service and fire rescue — it’s about making sure young people know someone believes in them.”

He highlighted the collaboration among organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, YMCA, Project Optimism and others working to provide mentorship and volunteer opportunities throughout California.

“A lot of times people say they want to help young people,” Strother added. “Today, people actually showed up and did the work.”

Participants also shared personal stories about the impact mentorship has had on their lives.

Alessandro Torrejon, a Chapman University student majoring in business administration and philosophy, said the event left him inspired.

“It’s heartwarming to see so many young men passionate about serving their communities and becoming better men,” he said. “It gives me hope for where our community and our country are headed.”

Angel Hernandez, a mechanical engineering student at California State University, Long Beach, reflected on his decade-long involvement with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

“Mentorship changed my life,” Hernandez said. “One of the biggest lessons I learned was patience. You can’t accomplish everything in one day, but if you take one step forward every day, it makes a huge difference.”

He said he hopes sharing his experience might encourage even one young person to seek mentorship and support.

At a time when conversations around youth mental health, belonging and civic engagement continue across the country, the event in Anaheim offered a practical and hopeful model: bringing young people together with mentors, public servants and community leaders who are willing to invest time, guidance and opportunity into the next generation.

From firefighters to lawmakers to college students, the message throughout the day remained clear — serving the community is not only about helping others, but also about shaping one’s own future.

(By: Richard Ren/LAPost)