Spring has sprung! The weather is getting warmer, the leaves are returning to the trees, and our teens want to share what they have been up to at YouthBridge-NY. Over the past few months, we have continued to see engaging dialogue and growth from our teens in our Skillbuilding Workshops and Social Action Committees. Keep reading to hear from our teens about how they relate what they have been learning in our program to their own lives.
MORE THAN A COMMITTEE
by Isioma Okoh
With the heightened amount of stress that one’s high school junior year brings, the last thing a student wants to worry about is feeling as though they weren’t doing “enough.” I knew that as soon as my tenth-grade school year ended, I would apply to programs, internships, and “check off” boxes that said I had signed up for extracurriculars in order to secure my spot in an institution for the next 4(+) years. However, growing up with two older sisters who had been through the college process and going to a competitive high school, I’ve seen the way that people apply for these opportunities as if they are mere obligations on a to-do list, rather than a chance to become closer to your community. Therefore, when my mom told me about YouthBridge, its mission, and what it would allow me to do in terms of educating myself about and advocating for underrepresented communities in a way that is digestible to high school students like myself, I felt that this was an opportunity that I could truly take advantage of. When I had learned I got in and was assigned to the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, I had crafted some personal goals of treating this program as more than just a program, but a chance to genuinely learn about issues that affect the people in my community (and other communities as well), becoming more open to new perspectives that I hadn’t heard before on the topic of criminal justice, and try to use what I would learn in my everyday life.
Now, steadily approaching almost a year into the program, I feel as though these goals are being met with each committee meeting and skill-bonding workshop we have. I finally feel as though I am able to contribute to discussions on criminal justice, have more knowledge about issues such as the school-to-prison pipeline, the process of requesting bail, and can understand the ways in which art and social justice intersect. In particular, I have enjoyed the guest speakers that have been featured and the insightful information they provide about me forming my identity in the world, becoming more acquainted with professionalism, and gaining the right vocabulary and language on how to speak to various audiences in an efficient way. Additionally, the interactive games and videos we watch help me to understand the topics at hand in a way that is digestible to me.
Most of all, the candid environment that is created by Tiffany and my fellow YouthBridge committee members impacts the experience of the program to make it comfortable and inviting for everyone, regardless of identity.
I look forward to these positives to last me throughout the program and learning more about criminal justice reform. I hope I can take the skills I am currently acquiring (and the ones I will acquire in the future) to blossom into a socially-conscious adult who makes changes in their community.
A DEVOTIONAL CHANGE
by Ayushi Das
As I turned on the TV, the news reporter showed a quick video where someone was pushed into the subway tracks. I was shocked that this was such a vicious hate crime and unfortunately not the first occurrence of its kind.
I joined YouthBridge as a way to use my voice for the greater good. The skills and knowledge I learned at YouthBridge further encouraged my pursuit in assisting others in need. Personally, I’ve learned more about how incarcerated individuals are treated within the system and how the system severely impacts minority communities. I was even given the opportunity to hear guest speakers talk about how the system impacted their lives.
I vividly remember playing a game on how different people were waiting for their bail money while in jail. It shocked me that this was based off of a real story about a girl who was in jail for so long that she unfortunately passed away. From then on, I wanted to support other organizations who uplifted incarcerated individuals in and out of the prison system.
Recently, as a member of the criminal justice committee, I along with fellow peers collaborated on a decisive decision to utilize our grant of $500 to help organizations continue achieving their mission.
An organization by the name of A Beautiful Heart Ministries was extremely impactful as they were trying to assist incarcerated individuals who were women, girls, and even gender-fluid. While reading their description, the founder was incarcerated and created this organization to aid others who were in the same situation as her. I believe that her journey and persistence to help others is quite astonishing.
This organization also put an emphasis on providing services whether that may be medical, social, employment, financial, or even legal help. The organization is devoted to making a change in their community which is something I wholeheartedly support.
AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER
by Alishba Waqar
For most of my life, I have lived in a small, secluded community as a minority where I highly desired to meet those of different backgrounds and experiences. Accordingly, when I came across the YouthBridge-NY Fellowship Program, I was immediately captured by its mission.
YouthBridge is a program like no other. By far, it is my biggest highlight of my junior year and has definitely shaped me as a person. YouthBridge is a program that provides a platform where a diverse pipeline of leaders, just like me, can implement their skills & knowledge they have acquired through their experiences. Not only does this program allow me to think critically and recognize pressing societal issues, but also confront those obstacles through innovative solutions with other like-minded individuals. Being in an environment with other youth leaders, I have gained from their experiences and cooperatively inherited their knowledge, ultimately enabling me to brainstorm effective strategies to modern-day issues outside of my perspective and creating an atmosphere that inspires all.
Personally, an experience that has really stood out to me was selecting the recipient for the YouthBridge-NY Bridging the Gap grant! I have never experienced this type of independence before and the selection process pushed me to think critically with my team members. We had no adult influence and were given the ability to make a direct impact. After hours of deliberation, our committee chose a recipient and it was the most rewarding feeling I have ever experienced. Knowing that you have made a direct impact on a specific conflict is actually the best feeling ever!
Currently, I am looking forward to the Night of Celebration! I am so excited to shift from a Fellow to a Bridger and additionally see our seniors reflect on the hard-work they have put in for the past two years. I am also looking forward to giving the grant to our grantee in person at the Night of Celebration.
If you are thinking of applying to YouthBridge, go for it! It is an experience like no other!
EMPOWERED TO TAKE ACTION
by Joshua Paz
I am Joshua Paz, an 11th-grade student at the Kew-Forest School in Queens, New York. In my search for summer and academic year programs, I discovered YouthBridge and was immediately drawn to the range of topics and issues they address. The opportunity to become a leader and receive leadership training caught my attention since I have always desired to create a positive impact in my community but lacked the necessary guidance and skills to do so. When applying to the program, I went through an interview process where I realized the potential of YouthBridge to shape my personal and leadership growth. The captivating discussions of the issues they tackled, coupled with the pleasant and supportive staff running the program, further convinced me of its value. During my interview with Karen and Tiffany, I remember being presented with unique and thought-provoking questions that challenged me to think beyond conventional perspectives, making the experience both pleasant and intriguing.
Throughout my time so far with YouthBridge, I have had the opportunity to attend numerous workshops that covered an array of topics, including effective methods for identifying relevant issues affecting my community, how to take action, and exploring any unconscious biases we might have. While all the workshops were engaging, I found the sessions on unconscious biases and the monthly social action team meetings on healthcare disparities to be particularly compelling. Going to the monthly meetings on healthcare disparities was really eye-opening for me, as it shed light on various societal issues that were previously unknown to me. In these meetings, we explored the numerous reasons behind health care disparities, including factors such as socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, and gender. Through these discussions, I became more aware of the severity of these issues and was inspired to take action to combat them.
The workshop on unconscious biases was particularly intriguing because it made me reflect on my own biases, which I was previously unaware of. Prior to attending the workshop, I did not believe I had any strong biases. However, through the exercises and discussions, I was able to identify my unconscious biases and become more aware of their impact. This insight empowered me to take action to address and potentially change these biases. I found it remarkable how everyone has their own biases, regardless of whether they are aware of them or not, and this realization was truly eye-opening.
As I continue my journey with YouthBridge, I am anticipating the opportunity to delve deeper into various societal and diversity related topics and to engage in meaningful discussions. I am also excited about the idea of honing my leadership skills and becoming more of a leader in my community. My ultimate goal is to become a young leader who takes action on issues that I am passionate about, and I am thankful that YouthBridge will provide me with the necessary tools and experiences to achieve this goal.