This spring, Youth Leaders in Sociedad Latina’s Youth Community Organizing program really sprung into action for their community! From learning and sharing immigrant rights, to leading peer and community discussions about Boston’s tech policies, our Youth Community Organizers have made a lasting impact in our neighborhoods. Starting strong with community outreach and education, our Youth Leaders exercised their powers of support, speech, and advocacy by creating and distributing fact sheets on immigration rights. Being involved in our community also means taking the opportunity to learn more about the lives of our neighbors! This Spring, our Youth Community Organizers attended a book talk from Northeastern University College of Social Sciences and Humanities on Sandra Guzman's “Daughters of Latin America” where they listened to stories from Latina women around the world, and shared their own. They also engaged with the "Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson" exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and reflected on what it means to be an advocate for their communities. With our Museum of Fine Arts liaison, Carmen, our Youth Leaders explored various mediums for self expression, including blackout poetry, videography, painting, and improv! They then utilized these creative tools to tackle some tough conversations with their peers such as the positive and negative outcomes of Boston’s tech policies, the role that power plays in cyberbullying, and how teens can develop solutions in collaboration with policymakers. As their final capstone project, our Youth Community Organizers created and produced a full-length YouTube video interviewing Mission Hill community members about how they receive their news. Keep an eye out for its release on Sociedad Latina’s YouTube channel next month - link in bio! #youthcommunityorganizing #communityorganizing #community #technology #art #poetry #streetinterview #interview #youtube #news #boston #roxbury #missionhill (fb)

Being “healthy” is more than just getting exercise and eating right; it’s about viewing wellness through a different perspective, keeping our communities informed, and making the commitment to take care of ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. This spring, Youth Leaders in Sociedad Latina’s Health Education program took on the tough challenge of keeping our Boston communities in the know about the future of health. Starting in February, our Youth Leaders unpacked the true meaning of Valentine’s Day by learning about the importance of communication, community involvement, and consent by engaging in cross-program discussions on setting boundaries and maintaining healthy relationships. In April, they hosted our second Screenagers event in collaboration with The Center for Teen Empowerment, Inc. They posed some tough questions about the relationship between social media and mental health, and explored how mentorship and building close bonds with peers can combat sentiments of isolation and depression. Join us by taking a few moments to reflect on these questions: What are some leadership qualities you think are important for teens to have? And how can leadership help in encouraging positive mental health, especially when it comes to expressing emotions? Next, they took a deep dive into the VOICES curriculum, which examines how prejudices and stereotypes can affect our identities as individuals and as part of a community. As a part of this project, they paid a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston with our liaison, Carmen, where they experienced the new exhibit "Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson", and reflected on their experiences and responsibilities as Boston community members. To finish off a great year, our Youth Leaders led peer workshops on pressing topics like body image, consent, and healthy relationships. They also created individual capstone projects that reflected their personal values and passions, from digital wellness zines to visual art pieces on reproductive justice. Congrats to our Health Education Youth Leaders, and best wishes to our graduating seniors! #health #healtheducation #wellness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #community #leadership #socialmedia (fb)