Hundreds of local teenagers, parents, artists and performers attended a fundraiser Friday night to honor the memory of Tara Romero, and to encourage each other to face the loss of their friend and family member by openly expressing their thoughts and emotions, whether through conversation or artwork.
The event, titled “Your Words Have Power,” was organized as a tribute to Romero and a fundraiser for the Sobrato High School senior class and the El Toro Youth Center. It was held at the SHS Performing Arts Center.
Jeff Turner, family friend, event host and one of its organizers, said the fundraiser was meant to serve several purposes, not the least of which is to remember the Nov. 4, 2011 murder victim. It was also intended to inspire Morgan Hill youth and encourage them to express themselves freely through words, art, music or any medium they excel at.
Numerous speakers, including Romero’s mother Annette Nevarez, emphasized the importance of staying strong through the pain of her daughter’s loss. Local students performed original musical acts between speakers. Original student art work was displayed in the front lobby to greet attendees on their way into the auditorium.
“We need more things like this,” Turner said to close out the program. “No matter what you’re holding onto, you can make it through.”
Romero and three other SHS students were shot in a drive-by shooting Nov. 4, 2011. They were standing at the corner of Cosmo and Del Monte avenues waiting for a ride home from a birthday party when a Chrysler full of five suspects drove by and opened fire. Romero, who was a freshman at SHS, was pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived.
Also shot were Alicia Sotelo, 14; Rosa Castaneda, 14; and Chris Loredo, 16. Sotelo and Castaneda, who were both shot in the leg, attended Friday’s fundraiser.
Ana Cerebros, 14, presented a portrait at the fundraiser on stage that she painted of Romero. She was flanked by Tyler Washington, 14, as they shared words about their late “best friend,” and how Romero would want those in the crowd to keep their spirits up.
“It’s really hard, but I know she would want me to be smiling,” Cerebros said after the show.
Washington added, “It’s important for everyone to be able to talk. This (event) is a good opportunity for them to be heard.”
Singers and musicians who performed original songs at the event included Amber Cox, Sarah Jaye who played guitar and sang “Trust Your Dreams,” rapper “Brother Ig,” and Jasmine Orozco. Kyle Venegas, 20, recited a poem about Romero.
Turner closed out the program, performing several original hip-hop songs with singer Lisa Okafor and guitarist Cameron Scott.
Michael Silva performed a rap song he wrote about three weeks after Romero was shot. Silva, 15, was a longtime friend of Romero’s, and referred to her as his “baby sister” in the song that he has not yet named.
“I wanted to really do something for her and those who are going through the grieving process,” Silva said on the phone Monday morning. He felt that writing a song and performing it in front of the crowd of Romero’s friends, family and acquaintances was an appropriate way to keep her memory alive.
“Tara was always inspiring me to do my music, always telling me I was really good. She always encouraged me,” said Silva, who has written songs for about two years.
Silva and other friends of Romero’s at the event described the 14-year-old as a caring person who was always smiling and positive. Jessica Reed, 15, said she attended the event to support Romero’s family.
“And I want to try to bring the community together, and teach the community about gangs, and hopefully prevent this from happening again,” Reed said.
The shooting victims were not associated with any gang-related activity and were likely mistakenly targeted by the shooters, according to police and the victims’ families. Their shooters, however, are allegedly associated with the Sureño street gang, and carried out the shooting to support the gang, police said.
Five suspects were arrested hours after the shooting and remain in custody in Santa Clara County Jail. Esmeling Bahena, 18 of Morgan Hill; Ricardo Diaz, 19 of Morgan Hill; Fernando Mateo Lopez, 20 of Gilroy; Primitivo Hernandez, 23 of San Jose; and Ramon Gutierrez, 17 of Morgan Hill are charged with murder and attempted murder, with enhancements for being associated with the illegal street gang. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 26 in San Jose.
Martin Saenz, 17, was only “friends of friends” of Romero’s, but the murdered teen had such a profound impact on him and the SHS student body that he felt compelled to attend Friday night’s fundraiser.
“She was always there as someone to talk to,” Saenz said. “Any negative thing would just go right around her, and she would make it positive.”
Turner and other residents hope to continue honoring Romero with annual concerts at the Community and Cultural Center, and by gaining permission to paint a mural in her tribute in a prominent public place in Morgan Hill.
Romero’s father, Joseph Romero, was pleased with the strong showing of support for his daughter’s memory displayed at Friday’s fundraiser and throughout the community since she died.
“You hardly ever see the community stand up like this” in other communities such as his residence of Los Angeles. “I’m glad for Tara’s memory. This support is outstanding.”
