• By PAM BORDELON
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 7, 2009 - Page: 1D

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Each week The Advocate asks a different “quiz taker” for his or her current favorites in pop culture.

QUIZ TAKER: Alvin Smith, 59, executive director of Youth Oasis

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: “As much Mozart and Bach as I possibly can.”

WHAT I’M READING: “‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’ by Henri Nouwen, Harvard Business Review, Baton Rouge Business Report Daily Internet Report and The Advocate.”

WHAT I’M WATCHING: “Any PGA golf tournament where Tiger Woods is playing and the Boston Red Sox when they are broadcast locally.”

WHERE I’M SURFING (ON THE INTERNET): “Newspapers across the country: boston.com, nytimes.com, washingtonpost.com, etc.”

WHAT’S YOUR PASSION? “I became a Red Sox fan years ago during the era where they found a unique way to lose every year. Now that they are more consistently winners, it continues to be fun to keep up with them.”

BONUS QUESTION:

How big is the homeless and runaway youth problem in the greater Baton Rouge area?

“By the end of each school year, more than 1,200 homeless children and youth are enrolled in the East Baton Rouge Parish schools. Each year, around 400 youth are reported to the Baton Rouge City Police Juvenile Division, and more than 200 youth are reported to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s (Office) as having run away from home. Reported numbers like this are always less than the actual number. These youth need a safe place to land.

“By Youth Oasis giving the runaways a safe place to reside, the youth can have some time to work out the issues with their caregivers and hopefully return home to a safer environment. If home remains unsafe, Youth Oasis will help the youth to find a place that is safe, whether it is with a relative or with the state.”