I remember feeling the thrill of being pioneers in community change work. At that time, folks were not really talking about youth leadership in a community context.
When I started working at yli’s Marin office, I was wholly unprepared to work in a predominantly white community…Looking back, I believe that it was a sign from the universe – a push for me to let go of my trauma as my identity and purpose and to redefine what my leadership looks like.
As a journalist, I help others to see their stories – not just as something that happens to them – but as something that has value. The interaction itself can be so therapeutic – people feel so seen when they have a chance to tell their stories to someone who wants to listen, who is curious and asks questions.
When I first started gaming as a kid, I just did it for fun, but as I got older it helped me in times of need. When I was stressed or when something was really bugging me I knew gaming was something I loved, and I knew it would cheer me up.
My family narrative is that work is supposed to be hard, we’re not supposed to enjoy it. I am so lucky to have a job that I love, especially when others don’t have the opportunity to do work they enjoy.
Despite real political challenges, it is and has been such an exciting time to be chicano. It’s as if an earthquake merged our Mexican culture…
I am a collage of cultures and experiences. I reflect on the lives of my abuelos and the ancestors that came before with gratitude for the life I love now.
For me, the goal is liberation – freedom from the system that is trying to destroy us native people and people of color. We need to figure out a way to work within the beast – not with the beast – to ensure that our young people have the resources they need to survive.
