SPECIAL FEATURE
GRADUATION
Below are some reflections from our Fellows and graduated Bridgers about their time in the Fellowship. We want to wish a hearty congratulations to all of our graduated Seniors, it has been a pleasure knowing each and every one of you, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in the years to come!
GOOD CAN COME OUT OF HAVING EMPATHY AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS
by Lalleyah Camara
I am officially at the end of my first year as a part of the YouthBridge family.
From the very first time I heard of YouthBridge, besides being moved by all the great work done by the previous classes, I was intrigued by its devotion to diversity and inclusivity. Well, actually my initial thought was, “well of course they have to say they're diverse, but are they really?”. So after the shortest research time in the history of research, I found pictures of Bridgers and Fellows from previous years. More specifically I saw pictures of Bridgers and Fellows who looked just like me. I saw other hijab-wearing women of color sitting in seats I hoped to soon fill; and It was then that I realized YouthBridge’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity was nothing less than the truth.
I quickly realized that my immediate assumption was wrong and YouthBridge became something I honestly looked forward to hopefully being a part of. In my time here I've learned so many things from how to literally take action in my community as a teenager through advocacy workshops; all the way to learning how to get rid of my own biases towards people through diversity workshops and learned how to ask the right questions when discussing tough topics with tough people.
While all those examples are beneficial to me, in my opinion, the most important thing I've learned here at YouthBridge is that so much good can come out of having Empathy and Compassion for others. In order to create change that will last lifetimes, it is important to not just hear people out but take the time to feel what others feel.
I can say with certainty that all the skills I have, and will develop during my time at YouthBridge will stay with me throughout my life; and I am proud to call myself a YouthBridge Fellow and soon to be Bridger. Thank you!
THIS WASN’T AN ORDINARY FELLOWSHIP
by Ali Saab
It’s amazing to see all these familiar faces and reflect on all the discussions and conversations we’ve had over this past year. I’ve always been an outgoing person, which pushed me to apply for this fellowship. My older cousin and brother are YouthBridge alumni, and my sister Widad is a Bridger graduating today. My siblings that were in YouthBridge had such high praise for it, and so did the people with them. So it motivated me and Tijan, my classmate at Razi School, to apply in our sophomore year.
I wasn’t a hundred percent on board because I was used to working or being with my friends after school. The average 15 year old doesn’t really think about being a leader or trying to make a difference. But that’s what separates the students here at YouthBridge and students anywhere else.
We weren’t average 15 year olds. We aren’t average 16 year olds. And the Bridgers graduating today aren’t average 17 year olds. Why? From the first meeting, I saw that this wasn’t an ordinary fellowship with a lot of overused proverbs or boring exercises. It was different. It was diverse.
But it wasn’t just diverse in the way everyone interprets the word. Of course, there were different faces and people from different backgrounds, but what’s really diverse is everyone’s perception. Each and every person I’ve met this year had their own unique interpretation of the lecture we were given or task at hand.
These workshops and committee meetings provided us with guidance in a city that’s always been extremely fast-paced and demanding. What I thought would be an uninteresting fellowship at first quickly became a safe refuge for aspiring teenagers transitioning into early adulthood, because we were given the freedom to explore and ask relevant questions.
One great memory I had, and hopefully other Fellows had, was when we discussed the New York subway slap. We spoke about who was at fault and who was right in that situation, and how the people around them escalated it. I thought the man and lady that fought would end up as lovers, but it didn’t work in my favor. Some fellows disagreed, but that’s what YouthBridge is all about. DIVERSITY. How does my background affect my perspective, and how does your background affect yours? How could we use our different perspectives to work with each other, and more importantly TEACH each other to utilize it outside the four walls we call YouthBridge-New York.
Again, I’ve always been a pretty social and outgoing person, but my participation in YouthBridge increased my leadership and collaboration skills with pretty much everything. At work, it’s easier for me to communicate and compromise with my colleagues. And at school, it’s become easier to lead other students when it comes to group projects or extracurricular activities.
The lessons I’ve learned through two hour meetings a few times a month will be some of the most important I’ve ever learned, and I am certain I’ll utilize them with me in the real world, whether it be in university or at work.
This way of thinking, bringing in students from different cultures, areas, backgrounds, and motivating them to represent diversity produces stronger personalities and a more open-minded perspective. I am truly grateful to be a part of this program up until now. Thank you Karen, Tiffany, and Aliza for all your hard work. None of this would be possible without you. Each of you have dedicated so much time and energy for us to widen our perspective and establish strong relationships with each other, and the memories here will always be in our hearts.
Thank you to all the Fellows for participating and being a part of each other’s journeys until now. I’m appreciative of all of you for being able to make this experience fun and engaging. I hope next year is just as enjoyable as this one.
THE FACE OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE
by Daniella Sanchez-Barillas
When I first joined YouthBridge and attended my first meeting, I feared many things. I fussed over what interactions I might have with my peers, I stewed over how this program may impact the course of my future, and I was troubled by how I might find my place in this program. I now stand before you all assuring you that these things I once feared led me to discover my purpose, harbored with the help of YouthBridge.
Through this program, through the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, I was exposed to very real flaws in the Justice System that had since been neglected. Learning topics such as the school-to-prison pipeline, analyzing solitary confinement, examining different forms of criminal justice reform, and watching countless videos on the distresses of those previously convicted of crimes. My naive perspective of a seemingly well-constructed system of justice was forced to broaden more and more as my YouthBridge meetings continued. And thus I found myself becoming a more well-rounded student, person, and participant in the reform of the future of our society.
In fact, it was with YouthBridge that I pushed myself to understand other fellows' opposition in addition to finding effective ways of communicating so that we all would be in agreement. We learned the necessity of confiding in each other and relying on the trust of being in an open environment, free from the stress of being judged. We, as fellows, and of course with the assistance, found ourselves being compelled to experience the lives of those we had been learning about, and empathized with how the cards of life had been stacked against them. So while I stand now, talking to all of you, I emphasize just how big of a role YouthBridge played in the broadening of my perspective of my blythe-like life with respect to the justice system, and it is because of YouthBridge that I strive to help in whatever way I can to improve the system, as an obligation to all of those in it.
I, along with all my other fellows, are now the face of a hopefully, brighter future, one we must take the responsibility of nurturing to the very best we can make it to be.
We, thanks to YouthBridge, must create the world we want to live in rather than simply continue in the one we exist in.
Thank you!
A BETTER PERSON AND MEMBER OF SOCIETY
by Joseph Doft
This year, I was part of the Healthcare Disparities Committee.
When my cousin Izzie first started YouthBridge and explained the experience to me, I instantly knew I wanted to partake. My entire life I had been surrounded mostly by one type of people with similar backgrounds, values and ideals. Joining this fellowship would allow me to meet teens from my city that had different backgrounds, perspectives, and lives than me. This desire of mine has so far been met and exceeded. Great speakers, kind and adamant partners, and of course our leaders have allowed me to put my feet in others' shoes and think beyond my own experiences. However, this experience has also given me a chance to connect with people instead of just learning with and from them: Our teamwork building workshop not only allowed me to learn teamwork skills but also to meet my peers and do fun activities with them (even though the shape guessing game was Very, very stressful). Breakout rooms and small group meetings during this year have allowed me to learn the personalities of my peers while we discuss important issues and learn from each other’s perspective.
Lastly, Youthbridge has taught me the process and importance of charity towards organizations in which I and my committee feel connected to. It is one thing to know what the right thing is, but it is another to act on that knowledge and help others in need. Being part of the Healthcare Disparities committee has allowed me to become connected with the cause of helping those who have been on the short end of the healthcare disparities in our country and the world. Using the knowledge gained from countless meetings and discussions to picture what kind of organization I would want to contribute to was eye opening. Speaking of contributing to an organization for a specific cause, The Bridging the Gap Grant process has allowed me to become familiar with the struggles of choosing one organization to donate to as well as the process of how to choose that organization. Doing research, talking with my peers, and getting to know each organization propelled me to choose the one my fellows and I felt suited our mission the best: For the Better Inc.
This year has been a great learning experience for me as well as a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the city and with drastically different backgrounds. I can’t wait to continue my journey and learn to become a better person and member of society!
BUILDING NEW CONNECTIONS AND STRENGTHENING ONES I ALREADY HAD
by Angelina Acevedo
We have learned a lot this past year through interactive ways. We learned about the school to prison pipeline and realized how much impact it truly has. If you’re not sure what that is don’t worry I will explain. The school to prison pipeline or link is when youth are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal legal system. Students of color are the people that this mostly affects. More public schools are adding police as their disciplinaries instead of teachers and counselors. These students would benefit from additional support and resources; however, they are isolated and pushed out. The “zero tolerance“ policy is doing more harm than good. It criminalizes minor infractions of school rules and cops in schools lead to students being criminalized for behaviors that should be handled at school. This topic personally affected me because I have friends that go to public school that have to deal with this everyday. It is important people are educated on this topic because knowledge is power. We played a game where we had partners and we had to roll a dice and whatever number it landed that’s the choice we were forced to choose. That activity was eye opening and really put into perspective how choices and certain circumstances affect your life and set your path.
Overall, this past year at YouthBridge has helped build new connections but also strengthen ones that I already had, like with Charmel. I loved being around a diverse group of people my age and it really helped me feel more comfortable as a Latina young woman. This was a great year and can’t wait to see what next year brings!
WHAT WE CAN ALL DO FOR THE COMMUNITY
by Charmel Apilan
My name is Charmel Apilan. I am also a part of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, and I am a rising senior attending the Notre Dame School of Manhattan. Being raised in a predominantly white Catholic school my whole life, resulted in my obliviousness to the importance of diversity and exposure to different environments. From kindergarten to 8th grade, I stayed in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge, seeing the same faces everyday and constantly trying to figure out how I, a Filipina, could blend in with my white counterparts. It was not until high school, when I finally gained knowledge on the importance of inclusion and openness. YouthBridge is a major factor that contributed to my wokeness on the disputes and injustices of today’s society. In fact, I learned that some of these injustices tend to be the result of America’s history, which is a controversial topic for most people. My YouthBridge mentors guided me to gain such knowledge and to use my voice in discussions about sensitive topics such as racial discrimination and prejudice. In this past school year, YouthBridge exposed me to individuals of various cultures who share the characteristic of being a proud New Yorker. Despite the fact that we held a few meetings over zoom, YouthBridge taught me that exposure to diversity is so crucial in an individual’s mentality and personal growth. Each culture, nationality, and individual views the world in a unique way. When we combine these unique perspectives, we each learn a thing or two about ourselves and each other.
Without YouthBridge, I would not have gained the confidence to publicly speak with you all tonight. As a student, I would consider myself as quiet and conserved. But because of the YouthBridge community, I’ve seen what we can all do for the community, starting with the Bridging the Gap grant and learning about our winner, Reentry Theater of Harlem. And I have friends who encourage me to use up all my potential. So thank you Angelina for motivating me to do this speech.
I am lucky to be surrounded by students my age who are of high intellect and who voluntarily want to improve their knowledge on the realities of life. I look forward to next school year and what YouthBridge has in store for all of us.
INSPIRED TO TAKE ACTION
by Jahric Serrant
I still remember the day I was accepted to YouthBridge…
The word ‘injustice’ is often associated with law and order, but there is another world of injustice in America’s food distribution system. The lack of food justice is disproportionately evident in low-income communities around the U.S. When choosing my committee, I subconsciously disregarded Food Justice because I was unaware of the magnitude of its effect on society. Like many of my fellows, I wanted to join the Criminal Justice Committee. I must admit I was a bit disappointed when I was placed on the food justice committee, but I immediately realized there was so much to learn and how important this committee is to society. We are fighting a social issue seldom talked about, yet very relevant to our day-to-day life.
During my committee meetings at YouthBridge, we initially learned about food deserts and the importance of food security. Low-income communities struggle with food security because they often do not have access to healthy and cost-efficient food. After learning about food security, I have a whole new outlook on how I view society and my neighborhood. Meetings with organizations like FoodStream and Backpack Buddies inspired me to take action such as brainstorming ideas on ways my committee members and I can impact the neighborhoods around us. Through monthly meetings, this committee has made me appreciate food security and its importance to society.
Also every month we would meet as a whole cohort and have many memorable conferences. My favorite meeting was during the beginning of the school year at the Project Reach Chinese American Planning Council. We had to choose to save some people over others based on stereotypes. It was difficult because we had to make assumptions about random people based on small details. It was extremely fun hearing everyone’s rationale for who they left behind. It is rare to find a community where everyone has different perspectives but also respect for others. Especially after Covid, these meetings have been an outlet of expression for me and also have drastically improved my communication skills. YouthBridge has turned me into a leader in my academic and social communities.
I can’t wait for my senior year of the fellowship and to gather again with my peers to discuss important issues. In addition, I am looking forward to being a continued member of the fellowship and an agent of change for food justice!
And on behalf of the Food Justice committee, I am happy to announce our Bridging the Gap grant winner: Backpack Buddies! Thank you again, and congratulations!
THE URGE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
by Widad Saab
YouthBridge has taught me so many vital lessons that I know I will take with me and use in so many different aspects of my life.
I first heard about this fellowship through my older brother Hassan. In all honesty, I didn't want to apply to YouthBridge. I never did anything in relation to advocating for causes or supporting communities. It was a situation where I felt that no matter my opinion, things wouldn't change. At the time, I didn't understand how a 16-year-old’s voice could make a difference.
Regardless of my disinterest, I still applied to YouthBridge because my brother pushed for me to, and I thank him every day that he did. At my interview, I was genuinely surprised. It was the first time in a long time I felt that my opinion mattered. Karen and Tiffany asked me about my experiences throughout high school and my views on national issues, which made me feel heard.
It was such a delight when I got accepted into YouthBridge because I knew that it was the first step toward becoming a better person altogether. I was put in the criminal justice reform committee in my junior year. We were informed about the history of mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, how the prison system works, and how it influences whoever is in it.
My junior year at YouthBridge was fully remote due to COVID, but Karen and Tiffany put so much effort into making it as interactive as possible. With each Zoom meeting, I became increasingly engaged in learning about modern issues and how to aid them. We did activities and had terrific guest speakers that let us fellows feel like we have a voice that can do something proactive to alter the course of history.
One extremely vital life lesson I’ve learned through YouthBridge is that everyone’s opinion matters, even if you disagree with it. Through this fellowship, we were taught how to express our thoughts and formulate opinions after being educated on topics. When you learn to respect the words of others and open your mind to other possibilities, you will learn to grow as a person.
YouthBridge is a remarkable opportunity for New York City students to learn how to use their voices. When I first applied, I wasn't very fond of the idea of speaking with other students my age about topics that didn’t directly affect me. But now that I’ve been a part of this beautiful experience, I wish I had taken more advantage of it, and I am disheartened that it has come to an end.
This two-year fellowship has offered me so much support and has assisted me in becoming a more refined person who is dedicated to continuing to learn about contemporary issues and how to use my voice to combat them.
In my senior year at YouthBridge, we were offered resources to help us to apply to, and get accepted into, our dream colleges. At one of our first meetings this year, YouthBridge alumni were invited to join a Zoom call with us and share their experiences post-fellowship. They explained how they paid for their undergraduate degree at college, how they joined clubs that were involved in bettering their college communities, and how they learned to keep using their voice to advocate for what they believed in. I feel like I can speak for all the senior fellows this year in saying that the meeting honestly helped us so much by offering us such enlightening advice.
In March of this year, us seniors were invited to meet with New York City professionals and donors of YouthBridge to have one-on-one conversations with them. They all offered such fantastic advice on how to build up your resume, how your work ethic is vital, and how important it is to meet and listen to people who have experienced so many things- because you never know what you can learn from someone.
YouthBridge is rightfully well known for helping high school students find their voice and be proactive in their communities, no matter how small the issues may seem.
I want to genuinely, genuinely, genuinely thank Tiffany, Karen, and my fellows for making this fellowship an experience I will never forget. I am confident I will take everything I’ve learned thus far and implement it into every aspect of my future at college and whatever follows for me.
I can proudly say that I am actively encouraging all of my sophomore friends to apply to YouthBridge because every meeting at YouthBridge has left me wanting to do more for my community.
I feel as though everyone should have the urge to make the world a better place, and YouthBridge helps you do just that.
I hope to see my fellow Bridgers do amazing things with everything we’ve learned throughout our two years at YouthBridge!