By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

ROMAN Gutierrez’s life is one that imitates art. It has all the elements that will complete the plot for a gangster movie: drugs, alcohol, tattoos and violence. An infested neighborhood and a dysfunctional family engaged in drug dealing, murders and teenage pregnancies served as the backdrop for Gutierrez’s own career as a Mexican gangster in San Antonio, Texas.
When he was a teen, Gutierrez died twice. At 15, he was pronounced dead on arrival from profuse bleeding after cutting his arm while smashing a guy through a glass window. At 19, he was stabbed twice by his best friend over a $20 bag of cocaine. At both times, he was resuscitated by paramedics. 
At 25, his life took a 360-degree turn, having been spiritually reborn and fully reformed.
Now recognized nationwide as a motivational youth speaker, Gutierrez is coming to Guam next month to address students and speak about his checkered past, and how he changed forever.  Gutierrez travels around the country warning troubled youth of the path that many of them are on and where it ends.
Gutierrez will be on Guam from March 18 to 21 upon the invitation of the Vision Xtreme for Youth, an organization under the Victory Chapel. 
“Mr. Gutierrez provides his services free of charge because he is only interested in helping teens. His message is powerful and enlightening to both kids and adults,” Victory Chapel Pastor Robert McGinnas said.
McGinnas said Gutierrez will speak before the congregation and students in public high schools during his four-day visit on island.
“He will give our youth a vision for life. Roman will deliver spiritual messages but he is mindful of not using the word ‘God’ in his address due to laws against preaching religion in public schools,” McGinnas said.
McGinnas said the session with Gutierrez is part of the Vision Xtreme for Youth’s efforts to “free kids from alcohol and violence.”
 “This is an alternative opportunity for our kids to get out of the streets and find directions in their lives. A lot of our kids have nothing to look forward to. They have problems with drugs, broken homes and some resort to suicide,” McGinnas said.
McGinnas said Gutierrez’s motivational speech is aimed at inspiring teenagers to take the right path.
Eric Cooper, director of the El Paso County Juvenile Probation Department, endorsed Gutierrez’s presentation.
“He was the real deal and kids respond to those who actually been through the fire,” Cooper stated in a letter of endorsement following Gutierrez’s appearance at the El Paso juvenile detention camp, where he spoke before 45 facility clients on June 20, 2006.