Calafia is YLIs statewide youth policy journal that amplifies the narratives of young people on topics and issue areas important to them and their communities. Each year, one Calafia Fellow is selected from each YLI office to identify the issue’s theme and write the stories. This year’s Calafia Fellows are an exceptional bunch. Here are their stories:
Fun Facts: I was supposed to be a boy and throughout my mom’s pregnancy with me my mom called me Ricky. I have 10 nicknames and I answer to them all (Trina, Trinabell, Tinabell, Tina, Boo Boo Face, Tina La Boo, Tinker, Tinkerbell, Trin, and Catrin). These come from aunts, uncles and older cousins. Each nickname for me is special, but I use Trina most often and am known to many friends and introduced myself to my partner as Trina.
On April 3rd, approximately 5 young people will be officially sworn-in to serve on the very first term of the newly established City-Wide Youth Commission. This is an historic moment in the history of the City of Madera, demonstrating City Hall’s commitment to including youth at the decision-making table.
On March 3rd, 2019, the city council held a listening session to make sure that all voices were heard, including Spanish speakers and the Latinx community. It seemed interesting because I would have the opportunity to hear how city council can help us make this community better by working on what our community thinks we need to add, remove, or fix.
On Friday, February 22, We’Ced Youth Media celebrated its seventh print publication in downtown Merced. Among those present was Joshua Semerjian, a PhD student from UC Merced who has been collaborating with We’Ced for the past year. Joshua and We’Ced have been building a strong mutually rewarding partnership to support the youth reporters in their personal and professional growth, and on the night of the publication party, Joshua had this to share
I had no idea that being born to a Mexican Mother and a Black father would make my experience in the valley one that would teach me a lot about myself, and how I would see the world. But it did. I remember being enrolled in elementary school, and how accepting and welcoming the other students were of my differences. They never made me feel weird or bad, they just simply accepted me for me. It wasn’t until middle school that I was met with issues about my race.
As you probably know, February is Black History Month, a month where famous and influential black members of society are recognized and celebrated. Back in January, Kody, our Program Manager with The kNOw, asked me if I would be interested in doing illustrations that celebrate famous and less well-known leaders in the African American community for Black History Month. I gladly accepted, and I’m glad I did.
Fighting for tobacco prevention for me is crucial because young kids of color deserve better than this, they don’t need any more direct targeting by big corporations, and most important they do not need tobacco or any tobacco-related products.
