Derek, aka Mex, watches over chihuahua puppies Sativa and Mary Jane Mota at breakfast.

Derek Kleeman, 21, left home as a teenager, too much fighting and drugs at home. His family is on the street. Sometimes he stays in Tijuana, sometimes in San Diego. He doesn’t like confrontation. It reminds him of his parents. But one time he intentionally got into a fight so he could go to jail and get off the streets for a while. Now he’s hoping he can get on welfare.

Still, despite his fight, and the record he now has because of it, he feels that violence is never the answer.

“If we put the leaders who believe in war, out on the battlefield, instead of the people they send off to fight for them, then that would end war as we know it. We need leaders not bosses.”

He loves pets, and recently acquired a lizard, which he feeds insects, and helps take care of his friends’ chihuahua puppies Sativa and Mary Jane Mota.

Derek doesn’t carry much with him. But he does carry a Bible, and likes to read scripture to anyone willing to listen. One of his favorite verses is Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”