Skip to main content

Community Connections: Making Connections: Getting to Know the Youth Voices Students

Support Provided By
Pamela Gonzalez shares the t-shirt from her elementary school.
Pamela Gonzalez shares the t-shirt from her elementary school.

The newest Youth Voices participants from the Los Angeles River School were asked to bring an object to class that links them to their community. Over the course of two days the students brought in a variety of items and presented them to the class. The exercise provides an interesting way to get to know the students because as they share information about their object they are also providing insight into their own lives -- where they live, how they get around, their likes, dislikes, and more. Students are not only sharing the links to their neighborhood, they're also seeing how they are connected to each other.

As much fun as it is to get acquainted with all the participants, the main goal of the activity for the the students is to begin examining their relationship with their neighborhood and take a critical look at their community. Often their object is tied to positive aspects of their community -- the basketball they use to play with neighbors at the park, the leaves from the trees along their walk to school, and a frog decoration from their grandfather's front yard. But some lead to questions about their community; the resources available, the environment, safety and other concerns that are bound to resurface as the students continue their exploration and investigation of their neighborhood, ultimately leading them to ask themselves, what would I do to improve my community.

Below are examples of what the students shared and some of their comments. For their full entries go to the Youth Voices Meet Me blog.

"My library card connects me to my neighborhood because I have memories of going there with my sister when my mom would go to her job." - Emmanuel Moyaho

LARS_P2_EmmanuelMoyaho2b

"My camera connects me to my community because I like walking around and taking pictures of things that catch my attention." - Adriana Felix

LARS_P2_AdrianaFelix2b

"My cross country shirt connects me to my neighborhood. I run a lot, and I run at the river, which is really close to me." - Arturo Gonzalez

IMG_P3_ArturoGonzalez2b

"The GLASSELLLAND sign connects me to my community, I live in Glassell Park and I enjoy going up there." - Melissa Barrera

GlasselllandSign2

Photo: Laurie Avocado/Flickr/Creative Commons License

View Larger Map

Support Provided By
Read More
A row of cows stands in individual cages along a line of light-colored enclosures, placed along a dirt path under a blue sky dotted with white puffy clouds.

A Battle Is Underway Over California’s Lucrative Dairy Biogas Market

California is considering changes to a program that has incentivized dairy biogas, to transform methane emissions into a source of natural gas. Neighbors are pushing for an end to the subsidies because of its impact on air quality and possible water pollution.
A Black woman with long, black brains wears a black Chicago Bulls windbreaker jacket with red and white stripes as she stands at the top of a short staircase in a housing complex and rests her left hand on the metal railing. She smiles slightly while looking directly at the camera.

Los Angeles County Is Testing AI's Ability To Prevent Homelessness

In order to prevent people from becoming homeless before it happens, Los Angeles County officials are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to predict who in the county is most likely to lose their housing. They would then step in to help those people with their rent, utility bills, car payments and more so they don't become unhoused.
blue themed graphic including electric vehicles are charging stations, wind turbines and trees, 2023 in reference to year

A Look Back at Climate Solutions In 2023

The U.S. may have a long way to go in its decarbonization goals, but these stories show signs of progress in climate solutions.