Ricardo M. Jasso was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a focus in Ethnic Studies and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling.  Ricardo was the Executive Director of Nosotros, Inc., inhalant abuse prevention and treatment organization, in San Antonio, Texas, where he created The Barrio Inhalant Abuse Typology Model.  Jasso also held the position of Executive Director at Luz Social Services, Inc. in Tucson, for eleven years.  With vision and determination, he strategically anchored Luz as a viable prevention resource for youth, adults, and families in the community.  Ricardo pioneered Luz’s cultural competency efforts and introduced the idea of formally recognizing and celebrating the Segundo de Febrero through an annual community luncheon that took place for ten years.  Jasso has worked for Pinal Hispanic Council in the rural communities of Eloy, Coolidge, and Casa Grande, evaluating various prevention program initiatives. 

Jasso founded and serves as President/CEO of Amistades, Inc.  Ricardo is also the Project Director for the Amistades Substance Abuse Coalition, a community education and outreach project focused on the prevention of underage drinking and substance abuse.  

Jasso has participated on many boards including the Chicano Alliance for Drug Abuse Programs Centro Cultural Aztlan, in San Antonio, Texas, where Segundo de Febrero was first founded in 1978.  He is a past board member of the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council.  Ricardo has also been a commissioner for the Pima County/Tucson Commission on Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention, an advisory board member for the Pima County Juvenile Department, and a committee member of Cinco de Mayo Con Orgullo.  Additionally, he was a steering committee member of the SAMHSA CSAP National Hispanic/Latino Initiative.

Ricardo has worked as a regional consultant for HUD providing drug prevention, treatment, and organizational management for Native American tribes in Oklahoma.  He has presented on the critical topic of cultural competence and conducted trainings throughout the United States and in Canada.  Jasso and Dr. Israel Cuellar copyrighted the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans, the first of its kind in the country.

With a career spanning 30 years in the areas of substance abuse, mental health, cultural competence, community mobilization, and organizational development, Ricardo M. Jasso is recognized as an asset to the community on local, regional, and national levels.

Stephen Powers
Evaluator

Stephen Powers graduated from the University of Arizona with a Ph.D. and did post-graduate studies in advanced research methods and mathematical statistics at the University of Michigan and Oxford University. He was a high school and junior high school teacher for 12 years, a research evaluator with the Tucson Unified School District for 18 years, and has held the position of President and Evaluator of Creative Research Associates for 15 years. He has been an Adjunct Professor of statistics with the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University for 25 years. He has published over 80 articles in scholarly journals on advanced statistical programs, personality, student achievement, and issues in the testing of minority children.

Dr. Powers' international consultancies have taken him to Egypt, Yemen, Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Albania and the Congo. Currently his evaluation projects include the University of Arizona National Center for Interpretation, a University of Arizona Student Mobility Grant that focuses on the internationalization of educational experiences of students in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, and projects with public schools and non-profit organizations.

Miguel Flores, Jr.
Prevention Partner

Miguel Flores, Jr. is the owner of Holistic Wellness Counseling and Consultant Services.  Flores is a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe (Yoeme) and the Tohono O'odham Nation.  He is a licensed independent substance abuse counselor, certified sex offender treatment specialist, and an acupuncture detoxification specialist.  Flores has been in the behavioral health field for 18 years. 

Holistic Wellness Counseling and Consulting Services helps others move toward cultural renewal and wellness through improved mental, physical, and spiritual health.  Practice-based and culture based approaches are accepted as evidence-based.  Counseling services include:  individual counseling, family counseling, financial counseling, groups, and cultural/spiritual arts programs.  Alternative treatments include:  acupuncture and traditional medicine (sweat ceremonies, talking circles, and individual ceremonies).

Visit Holistic Wellness Counseling and Consultant Services at www.hwccsonline.com.

Steve A. Torres

As the Juvenile Probation Officer in a Safe Schools Program, Steve designed and presented the program to community members and leaders, families, school district staff and administrators, and many collaborating agencies.  He presented the juvenile court system and Law-Related-Education to his students and probationers, as he developed and implemented violence, drug, gang prevention and peer mediation programs in his schools.

In a larger school district, Steve managed a large federally funded grant, and as the Safe School Coordinator he was trained for Critical Response in school violence.  He gained experience administering assessments and surveys that measured students’ attitudes and behaviors, as he lead the team in training staff, developing curriculum and program implementation , as it was delivered to their students.

As a Behavioral Management Specialist and Counselor, Steve Torres developed treatment plans for his clients.  He provided crisis intervention services for youth, presented life skills, and goal setting/decision-making skills to juveniles in the detention center facilities.  Additionally, as the liaison he worked with parents, families, juvenile court services and other collaborating agencies. He also e coordinated the Drug Court Program and was the instructor for the Adolescent Recovery Program. 

In managing a Drug Free Communities grant, and as the Project Coordinator, Steve assisted with the coalition team in establishing various committees, planning for prevention projects, community mobilization, fund raising, youth and family services, underage drinking and substance abuse prevention campaigns.

Most recently, Steve Torres is the Transition Coordinator and Specialist in a school district where he provides transition assessments which measure students’ career, employment, education and personal interest.  Assisting special needs students’ he provides them with results of the assessment, a personal interview, summary of career, vocation and educational plan that is incorporated into their Individual Education Plan, to prepare them for post secondary goals and activities.   They also have opportunities to gain experience in work application processing, resume development, mock interviews for jobs, and independent living skills. In other school-wide projects our students also will enroll in courses and training providing them with hands on experience and certifications in Fire Science, Nursing, Culinary Arts, Automotive, Law Enforcement and various technology-based courses. 

Evelyn Maish