yli is My Story

For me to open up, I had to listen to someone else open up first. I had to know that they could carry the weight of what was going on in my heart.

Hair has always been important to me. It’s how I express myself. Whether or not my hair is done can affect my attitude or how I approach certain situations. And if my hair is not done it can also be detrimental to my confidence. 

I want to change the narrative of what people think of me, so I wanted to tell a story about my life. I want to bring awareness to the southwest side of the city and to let people know that this community isn’t lazy and violent. We’re hopeful, we’re striving to live our lives, to have families, to settle down. We’re good people but because of what’s happening around us, it’s really challenging.

When I had a chance to reevaluate what I really wanted to do with my life, I realized that it was not just about money, but about doing something you love every day.

For the farm workers living in the Eastern Coachella Valley, their jobs rely on their ability to not only stand the heat, but work strenuously while the blazing sun beats on their backs. For women like Maria E. though, the scorching heat is not the most dangerous part of her job. 

Aaron Smith, a 17-year-old highschooler from Atwater, brings her identity in front of the camera despite controversy surrounding gender norms in the Central Valley.

I eventually gained the confidence to express my character and feelings during a major campaign to reform Marin County’s youth criminal justice system…I was apprehensive about speaking up, but the issue was so important that I felt compelled to take the risk of becoming more visible. It was the first time I was presented with a situation in which I could see myself.