During the 2023 Oceanside Independence Parade, Jimmy Figueroa, a lifelong District 3 resident and advocate for underserved communities, was recognized as a "Hometown Hero."

“Figueroa believes everyone has a different process because everyone has a purpose. Keep dreaming, but also make sure that you’re investing in your dreams with effort and time.”

"We get to step in the gap and restore hope to families in need, said Jimmy Figueroa - Executive Director of Operation HOPE-North County"

"One of the first things I said was 'we need to revitalize this organization, physically revitalize the space,' so. it mirrors the support the staff is providing, the support that our board and our community has provided for so many years. It needed a face lift, Figueroa said."

“A lot of these families are families that people don’t see — they’re living out of their cars, they’re going to work, their kids are enrolled in our local schools — they’re from North County, said Jimmy Figueroa, executive director of Operation HOPE."

“We thought, ‘How could we make the greatest impact with the funds we have?’ We thought Jimmy and his team … they are really focused on prevention. We started to pivot on prevention so the two missions really aligned.”

"The communities that we serve are coming to us often hopeless. It’s our staff’s job. It's our team’s job to provide hope," says Jimmy Figueroa, Executive Director of Operation Hope North County."

“An opportunity for boxing lessons provides a selling point to get the youth into the Resilience Program, Figueroa said. It takes up what otherwise might be idle time, Figueroa said.”

“Jimmy Figueroa, the program manager, said mentors attend all court hearings with the mentees, routinely visit youth in custody, and during the pandemic, routinely schedule skype calls with the youth in custody.”

“After three years, a program striving to help young adults on probation or leaving detention centers through mentorships with formerly incarcerated locals has finally found its new, permanent home in the heart of Oceanside.”

“We provide reentry services for youth and young adults coming home from juvenile hall. A place for them to call their own, said Jimmy Figueroa, Resilience Program manager.”

“Oceanside resident Jimmy Figueroa heard about the need for a more direct route to the college from former students he served as past supervisor of the Vista Community Clinic Project REACH after-school program.”

“Making higher education more accessible to the residents of North Valley should help promote an increase of college enrollment and retention among this community, which will improve the overall quality of life for its residents, said Jimmy Figueroa, Commissioner, North County Gang Commission about the Route 315 extension. Even though there is still much work to be done, this is one practical step in right direction.”

“Figueroa spearheads REACH, which stands for Recreation, Employment, Academic Assistance, Communication skills, and Healthy lifestyle choices. He’s revitalized a mentorship program, and set up a neighborhood cleanup program.”

“I think Jimmy can do anything, Vista Community Clinic CEO Fernando Sanudo said. He will be a very strong voice for that community. I could see him using his law degree to sit on city council meetings or high-level committees where he could have a say in policy and ordinance changes.”

“Jimmy Figueroa, an outreach coordinator for Project REACH at Vista Community Clinic, said the mural is a testament to growing teen involvement in a neighborhood that has been plagued by gang violence.”

“Figueroa said teen community service has helped turn things around. They can make a difference, they can create change, Figueroa said. It plants a seed of innovation and hope.”

“The ability to make a difference — that’s powerful, Figueroa said. Anyone can make a difference. Students attending Project REACH knew the victims, and decided to restart the high school/elementary school-mentoring program as a way to make a positive change. Middle school students in Project REACH began weekly park cleanups. Our hope is to leave hopeful every day, Figueroa said. Hope can transcend and pass all barriers. The REACH kids know it.”

“There’s more of a cooperative spirit between neighborhood residents, police and different organizations,” Lt. Leonard Cosby said. Jimmy Figueroa is doing a wonderful job out there.”

“Figueroa added there is still a lot of work to be done, and the community is doing that work together.

“We’re encouraging them to dream, Jimmy Figueroa, project coordinator of Project REACH Libby Lake, said. Sometimes the dream has never been established.”

"The high school kids understand that if they want to see change in their community, it's going to start with them, said Jimmy Figueroa, Project Reach coordinator.”

“Figueroa said discussions that day led to a list of things the students wanted from the city. Youth presented that list to the City Council. My kids have taken ownership of their community, Figueroa said. They will make the difference in this community.”