We'Ced Youth Media: The Fight Continues (2017)

ISSUE 6 WINTER 2017

YouthWire Collective

Coachella Unincorporated

South Kern Sol

The kNOw

We'Ced

VoiceWaves

YouthWire Program Director

Tim Haydock

YouthWire Statewide Coordinator

Alheli Cuenca

Program Manager & Editor

Claudia J. Gonzalez

Program Assistant - Crystal Rivera

Beat Reporter - Hannah Esqueda

Mentors - Leah Wight

Art Director - Kreepy Kawaii

Photographs - Alyssa Castro & Crystal Rivera

Translation - Paulina Rojas

New America Media Founder & CEO - Sandy

Close

Chief Financial O cer

Maria Alvarez

Words:

Cassandra Avitia-Robert Cervantez-Jesus

Dominguez- Hannah Esqueda-Alice

Herrera-Aaliyah Lannerd- Nate Lopez- David

Macias-Layla Ornelas - Crystal Rivera- Alex

Salas-Nisa Salazar- Victor Seguin-Leah Wight

-Natalie Wight- Claudia Gonzalez-

We’Ced Youth Media

Web: wecedyouth.org

Twitter: @WeCedYouthMedia

Facebook: /wecedyouthmedia/

Instagram: @wecedyouth

Email: weced@newamericamedia.org

We’Ced is supported by a grant from The California Endowment.

Editor’s Note

Twenty-sixteen was a tough year for young people. Nationally, youth across the country were left devastated by the results of the presidential election. Locally, Merced city leaders once again chose to invest in law enforcement rather than provide opportunities for its young residents.

In a move denounced by the community, city council allocated only a few thousand dollars towards youth investment in the 2016-2017 budget, ultimately sending the message that young people are only worth a couple of cents. While almost half of Merced’s population is under the age of 24, youth voices continue to be ignored as issues a ecting them steadily grow.

We’Ced Youth Media has been the glimmer of hope for Merced’s youth voice. We are committed to change the narrative around young people, but above all, to provide a platform for youth to speak out and ght to change the status quo in our community.

A couple weeks ago, during the Women’s March on Washington, six-year-old activist, Sophie Cruz, encouraged those in attendance to ght with “love, faith, and courage” in order to protect families and the most vulnerable citizens of our communities. She also had a powerful message for children: Do not be afraid. You are not alone.

I want to reiterate Cruz’s message. Young people of Merced, you are not alone. Do not be afraid to speak out. We will always be here to support you, to uplift your inspiring stories, and most importantly, to give you a voice. Our ght continues. This is the year to be fearless. This is the year of the youth.

Claudia J. Gonzalez, Program Manager & Editor

Dear Mom, I Need You

Story by Alice Herrera

Photo by Alice Herrera

arents should be open-minded and accepting, especially when it comes to their children, but I know this is not always the case. At least it hasn’t been for me.

I grew up with a single mother, and ever since I was a child, we were never close because I was ‘di erent.’

Although I am only 18-years old, I have had a very di cult journey. Moms, by society’s standards, are supposed to be caring and accepting gures, but I have not had the luxury of having that in my life.

My mom was never home because she worked all day, so my oldest sister became a substitute mother and took care of me. She, along with my other sister, basically raised me. They allowed and encouraged me to become the person I am today. While I am appreciative of what they’ve done for me, I wish my mother would have treated me the same way.

Though she showed me a ection, I never felt like my mom’s love was authentic. She was always distant and disapproving.

When I was a child, I remember having one friend. He was a courageous little boy who played ‘bride and groom’ with me. Of course, I would always play the bride, or any female role in every game we played. My mom thought it was weird and discouraged me from acting feminine, but I didn’t care. I would put shirts on my head and pretend I had long, beautiful hair. If I saw a woman on television, I would try and imitate her as much as I could. I always felt I was girl. It saddens me my mom has never accepted this.

I believe no child should grow up feeling unwanted, unsupported,or rejected by a parent. I do not want any person to go through what I have endured in my lifetime. I’ve known my entire life that I am di erent, and I’ve accepted it, but knowing my mom does not has really hurt me. When I came out to her, she made me doubt myself. She asked me what I saw in the mirror. I replied that I saw myself, but she questioned me once again, this time asking me about my gender. I was so devastated, and instead of ghting for myself, I said, “I see a guy.” She told me I was correct and to never forget I am a “male.”

I thought coming out would be a huge relief and that all my insecurities would go away, but once again, that was not the case. Months later, I came across this young trans woman on the internet. Her name was John Luu. Unashamed of who she was, she would

go out in public dressed ercely, embracing her femininity. I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I wanted to do the same, but because of my mom, I was afraid. After a period of following her, Luu uploaded a Youtube video titled, ‘I am transgender’ explaining what it meant to be a “transgender woman.” I knew she was describing me. I later spent hours researching, trying to gure out if I too was a transgender.

Turns out I am. And I am proud to embrace this identity.

I want to send a message to parents of transgender people all around the world: We, your children, already have a di cult time tting in and coming to terms with the fact that we are considered ‘di erent.’ It is your duty to support us in this time of need and uncertainty.

It is your responsibility to love us for who were are. It is your job to remind us that you care, and that no matter how we identify, you will stand by our side. Dear mom, I need your love and your support. I need you to accept me as another daughter and not the son you have always wanted.

It is your responsibility to love us for who were are. It is your job to remind us that you care, and that no matter how we identify, you will stand by our side.

Fixing a Broken Foster Care System

Story by Aaliyah Lannerd

because I would see my family being dragged away from me.

found that children in private homes were three times more likely to su er abuse from their foster parents.

he foster care system is supposed to provide a safe environment for young people, but my own experience was far from safe or nurturing.

I remember it like it was yesterday. My cousin and I were walking barefoot to the corner store. On the way home, as I was eating an ice cream cone it seemed everything was ne. But a few minutes after we entered the house our door ew open and men in big black suits came bursting in.

They held their guns to my cousin’s and his dad's head and told them to get on the oor and to put their hands behind their back. They searched the house for my mom and my aunt, but they were not home.

I remember a guy picked me up and placed me on the couch. It was at that moment that I saw my cousin and his dad handcu ed and walking out of the house with their heads down and o cers behind them.

Everyone in my family was separated. At rst I thought my mom gave me away. I was six years old and felt as if I was unwanted and unseen.

My foster home was not the best. It felt like they didn’t really care about me either. I had no clothes and had to wear their four-year-old daughters clothes.

I felt like I was never going to see my mom again, or have my own room or my own clothes again. I remember sleepless nights when I was so afraid to close my eyes

TTI isolated myself and became used to the dark.

In Merced County, there are approximately 651 kids in Foster care. Statewide, around 60,000 children are in the system according to a 2010 study by the Public Policy Institute of California.

About 30,000 children end up in foster care every year. Many of them already carry traumatic experiences with them and continue to su er trauma while in the system. An investigative report by the Los Angeles Times, found that from 2008-2011, there were 22, 330 abuse cases reported in relation to children in foster homes.

Around of 1,000 of those cases involved serious allegations of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. The investigation also

Children in the foster care system are also twice as likely to act out in school or show more aggressive behavior compared to students who have not been in the system.

Because of these experiences, many foster care youth su er from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Research shows that 21 percent of young people who went through foster care and have aged out have been diagnosed with the disorder. I am one of them.

With all of this evidence shouldn’t we be asking ourselves just how safe our foster care system is for the young people in it? In order to help foster youth who carry emotional and physical scars, we need to do more to raise awareness and push for change.

used to I isolated myself the dark. &became used to

Helping Young People Learn to Grieve

Story by Leah Wight

M M

y rst year in college was not the stereotypical rst-year experience. I was studying at University of California, Davis while my dad was undergoing cancer treatments for a tumor so large it was impossible to operate on. My reaction to his diagnosis and later his death was typical of the way many Americans deal with death—I avoided it altogether.

The news came in the summer of 2010. I had just graduated high school and was preparing to move away from home. My parents sat my sister and me down to tell us that the doctors found something. My dad had decided to investigate a cough that had been plaguing him for two years—a cough we assumed was connected to the poor air quality in Merced. But after going from specialist to specialist, he found himself at the oncologist.

Dad was always such a healthy guy – many would call him a health nut – so while we were shocked we were also con dent that he would recover.

For months I would cling to this hope refusing to envision any other outcome other than my dad’s survival. I clung to it while my dad decided to take a naturalistic approach and spend time at a clinic in Mexico. I continued to hope when he opted for a pill form of chemo. But when his health began deteriorating so rapidly that I could barely look at him without crying, I realized there was a possibility he would not make it.

After he passed I found myself drowning in grief. I thought I understood the basics of the grieving process after taking Psych 1: I just had to get through steps 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and I would be golden, right?

I also thought that the minimal anticipatory grief I had allowed myself to experience, when he was battling cancer, was su cient. ‘I should be done. These tears are helping no one,’ I thought. But I simply wasn’t “done” and squelching my tears only allowed the depression to surface in more sinister ways. I couldn’t fall asleep, I would spend days eating only sweets, and, most damaging of all, I felt utterly alone.

After months of my mother urging me to take advantage of UC Davis’s free mental health clinic, I did. I saw several psychologists and decided that participating in a support group might be the most bene cial step towards coming to terms with his death. During this time of healing, I learned to channel my pain into more helpful avenues—journaling, running, and painting. I learned how to cope. To this day I continue to struggle with bouts of sadness, but I am no longer drowning. My younger sister’s healing process began much later. She was 13 and living in Merced at the time of his death. During his decline my mom arranged for her to see a psychologist, but unlike me she did not have a support group of similarly- aged and -a ected peers. For months the psychologist seemed to only treat the symptoms of her grief—primarily helping her with anxiety. She spent very little time with the psychologist after our dad’s death.

Children who experience the death of a loved one should have access to a ordable services that get to the root of the issue—death itself. Many places supporting children through the grieving process are

cropping up throughout the United States. The Sharing Place, one of the rst of its kind, was opened in 1993 and serves the Salt Lake City area in Utah. To remain accessible to families from di erent nancial backgrounds they ask participants to donate what they can.

‘Was it my fault?’ – Surviving Sexual Abuse

Story by Crystal Rivera

s children we tend to only see the good in the world and in people. Our minds are lled with innocence; we trust that no one would ever intentionally cause us harm. But what happens when the child’s bliss is betrayed? Who do we blame? Who can we con de in?

These were questions I faced as a hurt and confused 5-year-old victim of sexual abuse.

I remember there being a slight rain and a cold wind that burned my cheeks that day as my mother pulled me out of the van and handed me over to Nana, my godmother. Nana took care of me and ve other children, some of them teenagers, while my mother worked the graveyard shift.

After I waved bye to my mom Nana left me in the den where most of the kids spent their time. Because it was late I was the only kid there. That was when one of the older kids – a 16-year-old boy – came in. He asked me if I wanted to play a game and told me to lie down on the couch. Then he pinned me down. I became numb.

I felt dazed and confused after it was all over. He told me to stop sobbing because only babies sob and I was a big girl. Finally, he congratulated me for going through the rst level. I couldn’t comprehend what this game was all about. Who was the winner? Who lost? All I knew was that I was in pain and I shouldn’t have played with him. I blamed myself for agreeing to play and allowing him to hurt me the way he did. That was the last day I ever went back to my

godmother’s house.

Unfortunately, my story isn’t unique. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, one in ve girls and one in 20 boys under the age of 12 in California experience sexual abuse. Data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics show one out of seven reported cases of sexual abuse involve children under the age of 6.

Victims of sexual abuse will often struggle to regain their trust and sense of self worth. They may remain silent, but just because the child cannot verbally explain what took place does NOT mean it never happened.

It’s important to remember that many young victims of sexual abuse do not report their abuse until many years later, or never at all. What connects survivors who report and those who don’t is the sense of shame and the blame they carry on their shoulders. They need to know that they are not alone, and it is not their fault.

Knowing the signs of a child who has been sexually abused is crucial to closing the margin of cases that go unreported. Some early indicators of a child below the age of 12 who has been sexually abused include: sexual interactions with an individual, toy, or animal; sleep disturbance, trouble swallowing, regressive behavior, and MOST IMPORTANTLY the child’s statement that something inappropriate occurred.

For children over 12, the signs include things like running away, substance abuse, depression or social withdrawal.

A A 67 34 1 7 40

The e ects of sexual abuse on a child can manifest almost immediately and can last a lifetime. Feelings of shame, loss, detachment, and betrayal can become an obstacle to seeking help.

After what happened to me, I lost the ability to trust others and myself for a long time. I nally decided to get professional help in order to free myself from the chains of being a victim for the rest of my life. I needed to recover, and speaking up is what saved me.

Victims shouldn’t be afraid or feel ashamed to speak up. We need to free ourselves. The Valley Crisis Center is there to help whenever we are ready to take the rst steps toward recovery and freedom. They can be contacted at (209) 725-7900. They are located at 1960 P Street Merced, California 95340.

The Surprising Pro les of Accused Assailants and Survivors of all victims of sexual assault cases reported to law enforcement agencies was under age of 18. of all victims were under the age of 12.

of victimizing children under age 6 and who were reported to law enforcement wee unde the age of 6.

of the people accused of victimizing children under age 6 and who were reported to law enforcement were under the age of 18.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Sexual Assault of Young children as Reported to Law Enforcement Victim, Incident, and O ender Characteristics." 2000 WECEDYOUTH.ORG

A Letter to Future Youth Council Members

By Robert Cervantez ear Future Youth Council Members,

A couple of years ago, I joined Merced’s Youth Council because I wanted to be a part of something bigger. I wanted to belong to an organization where I could make a di erence and institute change.

I was also fueled by the desire to secure a music venue in Merced. It is no secret that our city lacks recreational opportunities for young people. In order to have fun, we need to travel to Modesto or Fresno, both of which are almost an hour away.

Almost half of Merced’s population is comprised of young people under 24. And, ironically, as the years go by the city just gets younger and younger.

Last year, I became Chairman of the Youth Council, but it was a di cult experience. In the summer, I decided to leave. I had to move to another city with more opportunities for me.

My best memory with the Youth Council was putting together a community show, the Undivided Youth Fest, at Applegate Park in order to promote our body of government, the music scene, and the importance of youth investment. I wanted to advocate for my future and for the future

of our city’s youth. Unfortunately, the event was not very successful. I was crushed.

I keep asking myself why we have not thrived like other youth councils do, and I realized it’s because our City Council does not take us seriously. Our assigned mentors do not take us seriously. And most importantly, we are seen as an autonomous body without any power.

The most important advice I can give you is to demand to be respected. Tell the City Council to “walk a mile” in your shoes. Year after year, they ignore us, because they have forgotten what it is like to be a young person in a city with the highest percent of disengaged youth. Year after year, they prefer to invest in other departments instead of our futures.

It is up to you to change the status quo. Continue the ght for me and for all the youth who are looking up to you. You have the power to change the City of Merced.

No Limits -- Life as a Female Power Lifter

By Nisa Salazar

W W

hen I tell people I’m a powerlifter, they’re usually shocked. I get responses like, “You are going to hurt yourself,” or “Girls aren’t supposed to do that.” The worst one is, “You’re going to get really bu and nasty like guys.”

Rarely do I get a positive response, until I mention that I’m a two-time national powerlifting champion. That’s when their demeanor changes.

I’ve always been small, and not very heavy. When I got to high school I didn’t know what sport to play. Either you’ve been playing a sport since you were young or joined one in middle school. I did neither.

Because I wasn’t in a sport, I had physical education (PE). My PE teacher was a big white guy with a long white beard named Mr. Ha ich. The rst thing he asked me was what I was good at. I thought about it, but I couldn’t answer his question.

When he mentioned that he was a weight training coach it grabbed my attention, though it was an elective class only open to juniors and seniors. I guess Mr. Ha ich saw something in me, because he started showing me how to lift.

I started training everyday. Usually girls don’t lift so I wanted to challenge myself.

One of the rst lifts I learned was the squat. It was di cult learning the technique

because to do it properly you have to place your feet and your toes a certain way. Later, I was introduced to the bench press, which was way more di cult than the squat. I also learned to dead lift, which is harder than it looks. You have to perfect your technique for dead lifting or you risk serious injury.

Mr. Ha ich then asked me to join our school’s lifting club, ‘No Limit Lifting.’ I became the rst and only female member. It was intimidating. But the guys on the team weren’t rude like I thought they would be. They were actually very welcoming and told me that they were glad a girl actually wanted to lift.

Still, I wondered why I was the only girl lifting. Do girls not lift weights? Is lifting just for men? Women can be both feminine and strong. Take Caitlyn Trout, a world record powerlifter and a pro raw powerlifter. At 5’1

and 123 pounds, she lifts three times her body weight.

It is important that women play a role in powerlifting. It should not be a male dominated sport. I know I have to be a role model for other women who want to but might be too intimidated to enter the sport.

Lifting has changed my life. My physique has changed a lot, and I feel healthier. Lifting gives me something to look forward to when I am stressed about homework or family issues. And it has helped me gain con dence. I am able now to focus on myself and believe I can do things I couldn’t ever imagine doing.

Safety in Merced is Not Just a Police Issue

By Victor Seguin

ERCED, Calif. –Safety is a hot topic of debate in Merced. Labeled the murder capital of California – among other notorieties –Merced has garnered a very bad reputation for the level of violence that exists here.

The issue is almost always tied to questions of “public safety,” with calls to increase funding for police the usual response. But the best response to this problem is not increased policing, it is to invest and repair our communities.

Merced has an abundance of parks and playgrounds, but very few of them are being maintained and protected. We have streets, such as Andregg Ave. and Dale Ave. – to give just two examples – that have no streetlights or sidewalks. Then there are the many condemned buildings and stray animals throughout South Merced that make living in this area dangerous.

At the root of the violence in Merced is the fact that city o cials have allowed our community to deteriorate, creating the conditions that make it a perilous environment for residents.

There are many stories of people who are afraid to go outside in the daytime, of youth who are mistaken for gang members and attacked. This is what our city has come to, and it's been this way for as long as I can remember.

to be added in neighborhoods that are without them, parks need to be maintained, and pedestrians need sidewalks. These are the most basic elements that allow residents to feel safe in their neighborhoods. Without them, how can anyone feel safe?

And what about posting police o cers in parks instead of schools? This would not only make people who use the parks –children and adults – feel safer, it would also encourage community members to use the parks more often, and help build a friendly relationship between the community, law enforcement, and the Parks and Recreation Department. That isn’t something that exists right now.

Finally, we need our elected o cials to reach out and to hear the concerns of our community. Unfortunately, none of the city o cials responsible for governing Merced live in my part of town. As a result, they are mostly oblivious – or maybe indi erent – to what we see and live through every day here.

I hope one day that my neighbors and other community members will be able to freely walk through their neighborhoods without fearing for their safety. But this dream will only be achieved when the city recognizes its responsibility and begins to invest in the kinds of things that allow communities to ourish.

In order to change this, we need real investment from the city. Light posts need

Women’s Studies and the Future of America

Story by Natalie Wight

E E

very person’s voice and story deserves to be heard.

Allowing space for the unique perspectives of those who have been silenced opens the door to enormous personal, social, and political growth, and is an integral part of creating equity for future generations.

This was the main lesson I learned during a Women’s Study course I took last year before graduating high school.

According to a survey by writer and radio producer Jake Halpern that looked at the impact of celebrity culture on attitudes among high school age youth, 43.6 percent of girls chose working as an assistant to a famous singer or movie star rather than becoming a Navy Seal, a senator, a CEO, or the president of a major university as their career choice.

This troubling statistic is re ective of the commonly held belief among too many women: they can’t become successful or hold leadership positions. It is a view that stems from societal perceptions of what women should be that are perpetuated across communities and generations.

“As far as we’ve come, all too often we are still boxed in by stereotypes about how men and women should behave,” wrote President Obama in an essay published in Glamour Magazine.

In it, the president explains his feminism, saying, “In my lifetime we’ve gone from a job

market that basically con ned women to a handful of often poorly paid positions to a moment when women not only make up roughly half the workforce but are leading in every sector, from sports to space, from Hollywood to the Supreme Court.”

Maybe even president.

But the biggest and “most toughest” change, he says, is “changing ourselves.”

Which is why integrating Women’s Studies –and other social science classes like Ethnic Studies – is so important.

Did you know that during the American Revolution a sixteen-year-old named Sybil Ludington rode twice as far as Paul Revere in stormy weather to deliver the message that the British troops were on their way?

Ludington has received little to no recognition in history classes while Paul Revere is a household known name.

By taking a Women’s Studies class I learned about her and many more in uential women in U.S. and world history, as well as

the social issues that a ect women. Our discussions around teen pregnancy, drugs, healthy relationships, and bullying have all had a huge impact on my perception of the world, and I know these discussions have profoundly a ected other students as well. Many of my classmates came from families where such topics are rarely, if ever, talked about.

There are those who argue that including women’s or ethnic studies classes to school curriculum is an unnecessary expense, or a distraction from the more traditional courses like math and science. But I disagree. Including these classes will allow students to learn about others like themselves who have accomplished monumental things.

As Dee Myers, the rst woman press secretary of the White House, wrote, “Seeing is believing.” Sometimes all it takes to inspire the next transformative leader is the con dence of knowing that someone with a similar life experience has helped changed

UC Merced DACA recipients unafraid to share their stories despite threatening rhetoric

Story by

Esqueda

Hannah

or undocumented students at the University of California, Merced, President-elect Donald Trump’s anti-immigration threats are used as increasingly strong motivation to speak up and share their story.

“For me, I think it goes back to that same night when the election [results] were announced and it was clear that [Donald Trump] was going to be president. I felt like it was just time for me to let other people know the stu [undocumented] people do even if we’re not from here and how the executive action from President Obama bene ted a lot of us,” said Leslie Renteria, a second-year sociology major at UC Merced. Born in Mexico, but raised in City Heights, San Diego, Renteria is one of more than 400 undocumented students at the campus, many of whom are recipients of Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Enacted in 2012, the law grants removal protections for those who came into the country as juveniles. Though DACA does not provide lawful status it has opened the door for many young people to more easily nd work and attend school.

To apply individuals must pay a $465 fee, a cost that can quickly add up, especially for families with several children who qualify, said Francisco Ortiz.

A DACA recipient since his sophomore year in high school, Ortiz is now in his second-year of undergrad at UC Merced. Three of his siblings also have DACA, while two are natural-born citizens. His parents remain undocumented.

“The application part [of DACA] is very complicated so my mom and my dad hired a lawyer for us,” he said. “It took a toll on my parent’s nances but it was literally an opportunity that we could not a ord to miss.”

While the program is far from ideal, recipients like Ortiz and Renteria agree that DACA has opened the door to many learning opportunities that may otherwise have been out of reach.

“It kind of made me feel like for once I was part of the system,” Ortiz said. “Before that, I’ve always felt

like an outsider because I’m undocumented, but for once I feel more included.”

Renteria agreed and said through DACA, she’s had the chance to conduct university-level research, get published and travel to Washington D.C. to speak with elected o cials.

Her experiences were summed up in a tweet last week in which she invoked the social media trend “#WithDACA” and pledged to continue ghting for her future even without the protection.

“I wanted to share my story and show that ‘OK, I’m here and this is what I’ve been doing’,” Renteria said.

Since emerging on social media platforms last week, #WithDACA has grown to include thousands of posts, encouraging young people throughout the country to open up and share their personal stories.

That level of visibility is good, Renteria said, as it can help educate others who may be uncertain of what exactly is at stake when the president-elect threatens to repeal DACA.

“I think a lot of people don’t really know what DACA is. People think that if the new president comes into play, he can’t really do anything about it but they don’t really understand the di erence between an executive order and the law,” she said. “Like [Trump] can literally just take that piece of paper and throw it in the trash and that will be it. It won’t mean anything anymore.”

Opponents say such action would be devastating to the nearly 800,000 people who currently bene t from the program, and many are already shying away from applying or renewing their paperwork out of fear their immigration information will be misused by government o cials in the future.

Legal aid and immigrant’s rights groups warn the application approval process can take up to eight months, meaning many who are applying for the rst-time or even renewing their application may not be approved in time before the president-elect takes o ce.

But while the threat of Trump repealing DACA is real, Renteria said she is nding comfort in the way UC o cials throughout the state have responded. Earlier this month UC President Janet Napolitano spoke out against the president-elect’s deportation threats and pledged continued support for undocumented students.

“It’s good to know that we have the UC system and even the [UC] president protecting us and making us feel safe at a place where we spend a majority of our time,” Renteria said. “In many of my classes too, the professors are having this conversation and bringing it up.”

Hearing from others who face the same uncertainty and can identify with the situation is a huge bene t, Ortiz said.

“I’m a multi-minority so I often feel like I work my ass o to beat all these stereotypes,” he said. “To come [to UC Merced] and see not just undocumented students but also how Latinos are among the most represented here, it’s easy to feel comfortable.”

The visibility of undocumented students on-campus has increased since Trump’s win, and Renteria said she’s seen new faces come forward and share their personal tales of being undocumented.

“We’ve had open-mic nights where more and more students are coming out and identifying as undocumented. It’s so important because there are freshmen out there who don’t know that there are people older than them in the same situation,” she said.

Hearing all the anti-immigration rhetoric has still left many within the campus community feeling shaken and Renteria said she’s heard a growing number of conversations between people about what these changes may mean.

“Just last week, I was sitting at a table and a random student came up to me and started venting to me. He is an immigrant from China and he told me that he was afraid and didn’t understand why Trump can do these things,” she said.

“I was like it’s ‘OK, I’m from Mexico. I feel the same way you’re feeling right now and it’s perfectly ne’,” Renteria continued. “I think he was a little surprised by how well I could relate to him.”

While such support at the UC-community level continues to inspire him, Ortiz said he still harbors doubts about how far that protection may go if DACA is repealed.

“It’s kind of scary because yes, they said that UC Merced is going to protect undocumented students, but what about our families? There’s people in our lives like siblings and parents, where if they leave, the students will leave with them,” he said.

“It’s just so disappointing because it’s something that’s helped so many people to not only contribute to America’s economy but also feel like we belong here,” he continued. “For once, we nally feel like we belong in America and now it’s being threatened all because of one person.”

Message to Merced City CouncilMy Voice Matters

Story by David Macias

LLast year, I attended multiple City Council town halls.

Disturbed by the lack of opportunities for Merced’s young people and the reluctance of my city to invest in its youth, I wanted to put these issues before the council.

I was nervous, and had to build up the courage to stand and speak during one of the meetings.

When I did, I addressed the council with the utmost respect and conviction, determined to get my message across. But as I was speaking, I noticed that several council members were rolling their eyes, while others began to interrupt me.

Rather than let me speak, council members peppered me with questions, many of which they knew went beyond my expertise. Even the mayor, in his body language and the comments he made, conveyed disdain. I doubt he heard anything I said.

The message was clear: my opinion, my voice did not matter to the leadership of Merced. I felt disrespected and discouraged. As an 18-year-old Latino male, I have grown accustomed to such treatment in public. But as a new voter, I hold our elected o cials to a higher standard and expect that they will at a minimum show respect to the community they have been asked to represent.

In order for our city to grow and prosper, we have to treat each other with respect and dignity. This includes calling for our City Council to behave professionally and holding them accountable when they don’t. My opinion matters, as do those of my peers in Merced, who make up almost half of the city’s population. That is a lot of votes. Winning their support means providing them with greater opportunities than currently exist. It means listening to what they have to say.

The 2018 election is right around the corner. While most of us did not recognize the importance of voting in 2016, we learned a valuable lesson and we are ready to vote now. Youth issues continue to be of utmost importance in Merced and I am prepared to keep advocating for my peers. I will be watching you, City Council. Always remember my voice matters.

My opinion matters, as do those of my peers in Merced, who make up almost half of the city’s population. That is a lot of votes. Winning their support means providing them with greater opportunities than currently exist.

A Deportation and the Vanishing Memories of my Grandpa

Story by Layla Ornelas

or some of us, our lives revolve around our families. We worry about their health, well-being, and whereabouts. To think of a loved one being separated or missing hurts us inside.

But in mixed-status immigrant families, the constant fear of familial separation and deportation is something you think about everyday.

One day the whole family is together, the next day they’re not. At any moment someone can be deported from their home.

This is a nationwide problem and many families are being torn apart in the process, including mine.

My grandfather was taken from my family in 2010. I didn't know he had been deported until a few weeks later and it was so upsetting.

My family managed to immediately contact him, and while he was safe, money was the immediate issue. He had no means of providing for himself in Mexico.

Every month we started collecting money from various family members to send to Grandpa. Soon his absence began to a ect us in other ways, too.

FFMy mom and her sisters grew stressed and depressed. They missed their dad a lot. We also began to struggle nancially. We expected Grandpa to only be gone a year at the most, but it’s been almost seven years now. Since then, we’ve struggled to make enough money to send to support him and support ourselves.

But despite the di culties, we continue to help him as much as we can, hoping to bring him back to us.

Sadly, we do not talk about my grandpa as much as before. I have not talked to him in a few years. I hardly hear anything about him anymore. It seems like the adults in the

family try their best to not speak about him in front of the kids, as if it’d trigger something or put everyone in a bad mood.

So now my memories of Grandpa are vanishing.

During the holidays, his absence is most notable. Everyone still comes over to our house and eats Thanksgiving, exchanges gifts on Christmas, and spends New Year’s together. We act like he is still here with us, while avoiding acknowledging that he’s really not.

I miss my grandpa and wish I could spend the holidays with him again. I know other family members feel the same, it just hurts to remember him. We will continue to do our best to get him back here with us. His absence is very hard on all of us.

In mixed-status immigrant families, the constant fear of familial separation and deportation is something you think about everyday.

When Water is Thicker than Blood

Story by Alex Salas

eople have di erent de nitions for ‘family,’ but my de nition of family is a group of people you would go to hell and back for, and you know they would do the same for you. Family means forever.

You might think sports teams are just a group of random people working together towards a shared goal, like winning or accomplishing a task, but for those of us who are part of teams, we know it is more than that.

It’s about the bond. The goal brings the group together, but it’s overcoming the obstacles along the way and forming a bond so special, it becomes nearly impossible to break.

People always ask me what sports mean to mean me, and I tell them they are my family. It’s hard for people to understand why I say this, but it’s because for me, my sports teams are the closest things I have to a real family.

They say ‘blood is thicker than water,’ but I nd that is not necessarily true. Sometimes the bonds of water are more powerful than blood.

My real family was torn apart many years ago. And even though I have close relatives, my sport families have become my biggest support systems. When I see my track and footballs team, I see my brother and sisters.

We are often there for each other on and o the eld, no questions asked. To me it

doesn't matter how great the problem is, I will always be there for my team mates and they will always be there for me.

PPI know it wouldn't be a family without a home, but my home is the track and eld. They are always there for me, day and night, and have been around longer than some of my relatives.

Although a family is crucial, I know rst hand it can be a privilege to have.

For those of you out there without one, don’t give up on nding one. Look around you and build one. Find people who will be there for you and will help you succeed and

reach your goals.

It took me awhile to nd mine, but I nally found my family when I joined sports. I know it can feel daunting to feel like you’re alone, but I want to remind you that you’re not.

There will always be people willing to form a bond with you, whether you're related or not.family issues. And it has helped me gain con dence. I am able now to focus on myself and believe I can do things I couldn’t ever imagine doing.

How Young People Can Change the Narrative Around ‘Brown Lives Matter’ in the Trump Era

Story by Cassandra Avitia

always hear stories on the news and social media about how police disproportionately target Black people, in particular Black men. It saddens me that institutions meant to protect and serve are actually killing us.

I say “us” because as a Brown Latina, I know that my community is often persecuted by law enforcement as well, yet the killings of Latinx are less likely to capture national media attention.

Although I stand proudly by Black Lives Matter (BLM), a couple of months after the anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium and the election of Donald Trump, I want to remind my young Brown brothers and sisters everywhere that now, more than ever before, we need to send the message that our lives MATTER TOO.

Forty-six years ago on August 29, 1970, around 25,000 thousand people rallied in East Los Angeles during the Chicano Moratorium march. It was the peak of the Chicano Movement and young people were standing up against the Vietnam War, but most importantly, the injustices Chicanos faced in their own communities.

Activists and students were angered that Chicanos were disproportionately being drafted into the Vietnam War. At home, they were subjected to terrible abuse by the police and yet they were being asked to die

for a country that shunned them. In similar fashion to present day BLM protests, the police showed up and incited a riot where many were injured and three people were killed, including well-known journalist Ruben Salazar.

Salazar, who was 42 and a veteran reporter with the Los Angeles Times, was very outspoken about police brutality and the war. When he was killed by a deputy sheri ’s tear gas projectile, the community was outraged. This was the beginning of the civil rights movement for Chicanos.

Last summer when Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were murdered, so were Pedro Villanueva and Anthony Nunez, but my community remained silent. I could not understand why.

Then in November, Donald Trump became President of the United States, even after making racist and derogatory statements against various communities including calling Mexican people rapists, criminals, and drug dealers.

In the Los Angeles Times, Luis Carillo, an attorney who represents Latinos in cases of police brutality, stated that many Latinos stick to the maxim of “minding your own business.” This has led to a minimizing of the oppression this community has experienced in the public eye, and an inwardness within the community that has made it hesitant to stand up for itself and protest acts of violence committed against our own people.

Contrast this with the thousands of African-Americans who are responding to the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. Where there is so much solidarity in one

community, the other chooses to remain silent when we are killed.

This apathy must change.

We need to defend our people from those who abuse their power. We must stand up to Donald Trump and his unjust policies that are attacking our communities.

As young people, we must teach our families and elders to be fearless and take a stand.

It is up to us to keep the memories of the Chicano Moratorium alive. Just like thousands of people protested the impact of the Vietnam War on our community, we need to protest for our right to live,

We are not “criminals.” We are not “rapists” or “drug dealers.” We are Americans, this is our country. We deserve to be treated equally and with respect and not scapegoated.

Brown bodies matter to me, and in the era of Trump, they should matter to you too.

I want to remind my young Brown brothers and sisters everywhere that now, more than ever before, we need to send the message that our lives MATTER TOO.

Advocating for Merced’s Youth in D.C.

Story by Jesus Dominguez

I I

never imagined we would nd ourselves in the state of crisis we are in.

I used to joke Donald Trump would become the new president, but when he emerged victorious, I was in utter disbelief.

During his campaign, he made promises that I hoped he would not keep, but immediately after being inaugurated, he signed Executive Orders that are damaging to communities like ours.

I reminisced about a trip I took in the spring and how I felt obligated to advocate for the youth of Merced.

I had the honor of ying to Washington D.C. to meet with legislators and organizers working around issues of social justice and equity. The ve-day adventure left a lasting impression on me and instilled in me leadership and advocacy skills I will use for the rest of my life.

Our group consisted of eight young men of color and ve adult allies from Boys and Men of Color (BMoC) and Building Healthy Communities (BHC) in Merced and Fresno. Although I met some of them the day we were departing, we immediately bonded over the passion we share to help and better our community.

On our second day in D.C., we met with a group from the nonpro t organization PolicyLink for a training session on advocacy and the importance of achieving equity. During the workshop we heard from

individuals who are leading the work in this eld in preparation for our own meeting with legislators later on in the week.

Some of the issues we advocated for included health access for undocumented people, immigration reform and youth investment. That last one is critical in Merced, where city leaders seem to have forgotten the youth and have completely underfunded opportunities and resources for them to prosper.

In our community, youth make up half the population of Merced. Developing their leadership skills and giving them the right tools can make a positive impact on the landscape of our city. They should not be forgotten or ignored.

The highlight of the trip was meeting with U.S. Representative Jim Costa (D-CA 16th District) and Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Paci c American Caucus (CAPAC) Krystal Ka’ai, who stressed that the most e ective means of social and

political change is through civic engagement and voting.

Her statement made me realize that as a young person, I do in fact have the power to change the status quo, and that it is our responsibility to use this right to bring change in our communities.

Representative Costa also had some words for us. “Never forget where you come from,” he said. His message resonated with me because it is my love for my community that fuels me to be engaged.

While it is okay to be scared due to the uncertainty of what may happen under the Trump Administration, I hope you nd the courage in you and take this opportunity to advocate for yourselves and Merced. As young people, no voice is stronger than ours.

If we have to descend upon Washington D.C. again, then we will. Even in tough times, continue to #StayLoud.

Bullying does not End in High School

Story by Nathan Lopez

s an LGBTQ youth my high school years were quite di cult. Even though I was fortunate enough to have a very supportive family, my small-town school had some close-minded people who bullied me.

I was bullied each school year and even though I went to higher authorities multiple times for help, I was repeatedly given the same response: “Just ignore it. By you not paying attention, they’ll get the hint and stop.”

So that’s exactly what I did, but nothing changed. The bullying continued and the aggression got worse.

Bullying is a very serious matter not only in the youth community but also in the adult and LGBTQ communities. Bullying consists of not only verbal and mental abuse but can escalate into physical abuse which is never a good thing. Over time, bullying itself has moved onto the internet, like much of our lives, with harassment through social media and cyberbullying.

High school youth who are LGBTQ are bound to su er bullying. According to The Trevor Project, the rate of suicide is four times higher for LGBTQ youth than non-LGBTQ youth.

I don’t think it’s entirely the new generation’s fault. Their parents raised their children to think being di erent is wrong, but my personal experience is that bullying

is never the answer.

A AI was in my sophomore year in high school when I really began to start getting harassed and bullied in my school. One day, the school was having an anti-bullying awareness assembly and the guest speaker was a woman who went by the name “Sparky.” As she was nishing her introduction, she asked the crowd if anyone wanted to come down and state their name and say why they’re against bullying.

I rose my hand hoping I’d be picked -- luck was on my side and I was chosen. As I made my way down to the center of the gym I remember I was so nervous. As I was given the microphone my whole body was shaking.

I remember standing in front of half the entire school and saying, “my name is Nathan Lopez and I am gay and I’m against bullying.” The guest speaker stopped me midway and said I was very brave for

sharing this and after she said that I remember everyone started applauding and cheering.

That day I wanted to make a change, so I stood up for myself. Unfortunately, I’m now 22 and I still deal with bullying. I still see bullying.

We need to change the way these situations are being handled in schools. Teachers need to intervene and protect their students. More resources need to be provided for victims of bullying. But what can really make a di erence is for students to be willing to stand up for each other. I wish someone had been there to defend me and stopped the bullying I endured.

Don’t allow my experience to be the experience of someone else. I call on you to be an ally for the kid who is being picked on. I call on you to step in and be a friend for an LGBTQ youth who has no one else.

de los problemas de tarea o de la familia. Y me ha ayudado a ganar con anza. Puedo ahora -concen trarme en mí misma y creo que puedo hacer cosas que no podía imaginar jamás hacer.

algo positivo que hacer cuando estoy estresada acerca

Levantar pesas ha cambiado mi vida. Mi cuerpo ha cambiado mucho, y me siento más saludable. Me da

pero estan tienen miedo de entrar en el deporte.

Es importante que las mujeres juegen un papel en levantamiento de pesas. No debería ser un deporte dominado por los hombres. Yo sé que tengo que ser un modelo a seguir para otras mujeres que quieren

Tome Caitlyn Trucha, un levantadora de pesas récord mundial. Mide 5'1 y pesa 123 libras, ella levantar tres veces su peso corporal.

Las mujeres pueden ser a la vez femenina y fuerte.

Levantar es sólo para hombres?

Aún así, me preguntaba por qué yo era la única chica en el club. Por qué las niñas no levantan pesas?

Fue intimidante. Pero los chicos del equipo no eran groseros como pensé que sería. En realidad eran muy acogedores y me dijeron que estaban contentos a una chica en realidad quería levantar.

"Me convertí en el primer y único miembro femenino.

El Sr. Ha ich luego me pidió unirse a club de -levanta miento de pesas de nuestra escuela, 'No Limit Lifting”.

tarde, me presentaron a la prensa de banco, que era mucho más difícil que la posición en cuclillas. También aprendí a peso muerto, que es más difícil de lo que parece. Usted tiene que perfeccionar su técnica para el levantamiento muerto o corre el riesgo de lesiones graves.

porque para hacerlo bien hay que colocar los pies y los dedos de los pies de una manera determinada. Más

Uno de los primeros ascensores que aprendí fue la posición en cuclillas. Fue di cil aprender la técnica,

Empecé a entrenar todos los días. Por lo general, las niñas no levantan así que quería desa arme a mí misma.

era una clase electiva abierta sólo a estudiantes de tercero y cuarto año. Creo que el Sr. Ha ich vio algo en mí, porque él empezó a mostrarme cómo levantar.

Cuando mencionó que era un entrenador de -levanta miento de pesas me llamó la atención, a pesar de que

daba bien. Lo pensé, pero no podía responder a su pregunta.

grande blanco con una larga barba blanca llamado Sr. Ha ich. Lo primero que me preguntó fue lo que se me

Física (PE). Mi maestro de educación física era un tipo

Porque yo no estaba en un deporte, tuve Educación

Siempre he sido pequeña, y no muy pesada. Cuando llegué a la escuela secundaria no sabía qué deporte jugar. Muchos estudiantes habían estado jugando un deporte desde que eran joven o se habían unido a uno en la escuela media. Yo no había hecho ninguno.

Rara vez me dan una respuesta positiva, hasta que he dicho que he sido campeona nacional de Powerlifting dos veces. Es entonces cuando su comportamiento cambia.

"Usted se va a hacer daño", o "No se supone que las muchachas de hacer eso." Lo peor que uno es, "Vas a llegar muy musculosa y desagradable como chicos."

Cuando le digo a la gente que soy un Powelifter, por lo general están en shock. Recibo respuestas como:

Por Nisa Salazar

Mujer Powerlifter

Sin Límites - La Vida Como una

Están ubicados en la calle 1960 P Merced, California 95340.

Las víctimas no deben tener miedo o sentir vergüenza de hablar. Tenemos que liberarnos. El Centro de Crisis del Valle está aquí para ayudar cuando esten listos para dar los primeros pasos hacia la recuperación y la libertad. Se les puede contactar al (209) 725-7900.

Las víctimas de abuso sexual a menudo enfretan di cultades para recuperar su con anza y sentido de autoestima. Pueden permanecer en silencio, pero sólo porque el niño no puede explicar verbalmente lo que se llevó a cabo no signi ca que nunca ocurrió.

arme y expresarme fue lo que me salvó.

Después de lo que me pasó, perdí la capacidad de con ar en los demás y en mí misma durante mucho tiempo. Finalmente decidí buscar ayuda profesional con el n de librarme de las cadenas de ser una víctima para el resto de mi vida. Necesitaba -recuper

Los efectos del abuso sexual de un niño pueden manifestarse casi de inmediato y pueden durar toda la vida. Los sentimientos de vergüenza, pérdida, separación, y la traición pueden convertirse en un obstáculo para la búsqueda de ayuda.

Para niños mayores de 12, las señales incluyen cosas como huyendo, abuso de sustancias, depresión o aislamiento social.

sueño, di cultad para tragar, comportamiento regresivo, y lo más importante la declaración del niño que le paso algo inadecuado.

Conocer las señales de un niño que ha sido abusado sexualmente es crucial para cerrar el margen de casos que no se denuncian. Algunos indicadores tempranos de un niño menor de 12 años que ha sido objeto de abuso sexual incluyen: interacciones sexuales con un individuo, un juguete o animales; trastornos del

solos, y no es culpa de ellos.

es el sentido de la vergüenza y la culpa que llevan sobre sus hombros. Ellos necesitan saber que no están

Es importante recordar que muchos jóvenes víctimas de abuso sexual no denuncian el abuso hasta muchos años más tarde, o nunca en absoluto. Lo que conecta a los sobrevivientes que reportan y los que no lo hacen

datos de la O cina de Estadísticas de Justicia muestran uno de cada siete casos reportados de abuso sexual involucra a niños menores de 6 años.

Por desgracia, mi historia no es única. De acuerdo con el Centro Nacional para las víctimas de delitos, uno de cada cinco niñas y uno de cada 20 niños menores de 12 años en California experiencia abuso sexual. Los

último día que fui a la casa de mi madrina.

sabía era que yo estaba en el dolor y que no debería haber jugado con él. Me culpé por haber accedido a jugar y permitir que me causara daño. Ese fue el

¿Quién fue el ganador? ¿Quién perdió? Todo lo que

Por último, me felicitó por pasar por el primer nivel. Yo no podía comprender de lo que este juego se trataba.

Me sentía aturdida y confundida después de que todo había terminado. Él me dijo que dejara de llorar, porque sólo los bebés lloran y yo era una niña grande.

entonces cuando uno de los niños más grandes - un chico de 16 años de edad -me preguntó si quería jugar un juego y me dijo que me acostara en el sofá.. Luego me inmovilizó. Mi cuerpo estaba adormecido.

Después de decirle adiós a mi madre Nana me dejó en la sala donde la mayoría de los niños pasaban el tiempo. Porque era tarde yo era la única niña allí. Fue

sacó de la camioneta y me entrego a Nana, mi madrina. Nana me cuidaba a mi y a otros cinco niños, algunos de ellos adolescentes, mientras mi madre trabajaba el turno de noche.

Yo recuerdo que había una lluvia ligera y un viento frío que quemaba mis mejillas ese día como mi madre me

Estas fueron las preguntas a cuales me enfrentaba con dolor, cuando a los 5 años de edad, fui víctima de abuso sexual.

¿En quién podemos con ar?

Cuando somos niños solo vemos lo bueno del mundo y las personas. Nuestras mentes están llenas de inocencia; con amos en que nadie nos haría daño intencionalmente. Pero qué sucede cuando es traicionado la felicidad del niño? ¿A quién culpamos?

Por Crystal Rivera

"¿Fue culpa mía? '- Sobreviviendo el Abuso Sexual

vez más joven. Es inevitable que algunos de nuestros jóvenes vivirán pérdidas en la infancia. Su proceso de recuperación debe en parte depende de los recursos disponibles para ellos en nuestra comunidad.

Merced aún no tiene un "Sharing Place," pero lo necesitamos desesperadamente. La mediana de edad en Merced es de 28 años, y la tendencia es sólo cada

pérdida semejante, una premisa que ha llevado a la sociedad para tratar de "proteger" a los jóvenes de las realidades de la muerte. La verdad es que los niños, especialmente los niños más jóvenes tienen -simple mente un proceso de luto diferente.

El afamado psicólogo Sigmund Freud dijo una vez que los niños tienen di cultades para concebir, incluso una

Los niños que experimentan la muerte de un ser querido deben tener acceso a servicios asequibles que llegan a la raíz del problema en sí a la muerte. Muchos lugares de apoyo a los niños a través del proceso de luto están surgiendo en todo Estados Unidos. The Sharing Place, uno de los primeros de su tipo, fue inaugurado en 1993 y sirve a la zona de Salt Lake City en Utah. Para seguir siendo accesible a las familias de diferentes orígenes nancieros se pide a los -partici pantes que donen lo que puedan.

Durante meses, el psicólogo parecía únicamente para tratar los síntomas de su dolor, principalmente su ansiedad. Pasó muy poco tiempo con el psicólogo después de la muerte de nuestro padre.

El proceso de curación de mi hermana más joven comenzó mucho más tarde. Ella tenía 13 años y vivía en Merced en el momento de la muerte de nuestro padre. Durante su descenso a mi madre la llevó ver a un psicólogo, pero a diferencia de mí, ella no tenía un grupo de apoyo de los compañeros de edad similar.

decidí que la participación en un grupo de apoyo podría ser el paso más bene cioso para llegar a un acuerdo con la muerte de mi padre. Durante este tiempo de curación, aprendí a canalizar mi dolor en más actividades positivas como escribir en mi diario, correr, y pintar. Aprendí cómo hacer frente. Al día de hoy sigo luchando con episodios de tristeza, pero ya no estoy ahogándome.

mental de UC Davis, lo hice. Vi a varios psicólogos y

Después de meses de mi madre me insistiendo de yo debería aprovechar la clínica gratuita de la salud

sentía completamente sola.

También pensé que la pena anticipada mínima me había permitido experimentar, cuando él estaba luchando contra el cáncer, fue su ciente. "Debería estar terminado. Estas lágrimas están ayudando a nadie ', pensé. Pero simplemente no estaba "terminado" y acallar mis lágrimas sólo permitió la depresión se manifestará de manera más siniestra. No podía conciliar el sueño, me gustaba pasar días comiendo sólo dulces, y, lo más dañino de todo, me

y 5 y todo estaría bien, ¿verdad?

Después de que el fallecio me encontré ahogada en el dolor. Creí comprender los fundamentos del proceso de luto después de tomar una clase de psicologia: Yo sólo tenía que conseguir a través de los pasos 1, 2, 3, 4

Seguí con la esperanza cuando optó por tomar una píldora de la quimioterapia. Pero cuando su salud comenzó a deteriorarse tan rápidamente que apenas podía mirarlo sin llorar, me di cuenta de que había una posibilidad que él no sobreviviría.

podrían llamarlo un tipo sano - así que mientras nos quedamos sorprendidos también estábamos seguros de que se recuperaría.

Papá siempre fue un tipo muy saludable - muchos

La noticia vino en el verano de 2010. Me acababa de graduar de la escuela secundaria y me estaba preparando para irme lejos de casa. Mis padres sentaron a mi hermana y a mí para decirnos que los médicos encontraron algo. Mi padre había decidido investigar una tos que le había estado molestando durante dos años. Asumimos que estaba conectada a la mala calidad del aire en Merced. Pero después de pasar de un especialista a otro, se encontró en el oncólogo.

Mi reacción a su diagnóstico y su muerte fue típico de la forma en que muchos estadounidenses lidian con este tipo de cosas, lo evite por completo.

Mi primer año en la universidad no fue la experiencia estereotipada de primer año. Yo estaba estudiando en la Universidad de California, Davis, mientras que mi padre estaba pasando por tratamientos contra el cáncer de un tumor tan grande que era imposible operar.

Por Leah Wright

Ayudando a Los Jóvenes con El Luto

que me aceptes como otra hija y no el hijo que siempre ha deseado.

Querida mamá, necesito tu amor y tu apoyo. Necesito

Es su responsabilidad querernos tal como somos. Es su trabajo recordarnos que te importamos, y que no importa cómo nos identi camos, que estarán a nuestro lado siempre.

Quiero enviar un mensaje a los padres de las personas transexuales en todo el mundo."Nosotros, sus hijos, ya tenemos un ajuste y llegar a un acuerdo con el hecho de que somos considerados “diferentes”. Es su deber para apoyarnos en este momento de necesidad e incertidumbre.

Resulta que sí lo soy. Y estoy orgullosa de adoptar esta identidad.

lo que signi caba ser una" mujer transexual”. Yo sabía que me estaba describiendo. Más tarde me pasé horas investigando, tratando de averiguar si yo también era transexual.

Después de un período de seguirla, Luu subió un video de Youtube titulado: "Soy transexual” explicando

Me pareció que era la mejor cosa que jamás había visto. Yo quería hacer lo mismo, pero debido a mi madre, tenía miedo.

Meses más tarde, me encontré con una mujer joven transexual en el Internet. Su nombre era John Luu. Sin vergüenza de quién era ella, ella salía en público vestida con ferocidad, que aceptaba a su feminidad.

Durante meses me aferre a esta esperanza no queriendo imaginar cualquier otro resultado que no sea la supervivencia de mi padre. Me aferré a él, mientras que mi padre decidió tomar un enfoque naturalista y pasar el tiempo en una clínica en México.

vez más, esto no fue el caso.

Pensé que salir del armario sería un gran alivio y que todas mis inseguridades iban a desaparecer, pero una

mí misma, me dije: "Veo un chico." Ella me dijo que era correcto y que nunca olvido que soy un "varon".

Cuando le dije la verdad sobre mi identidad a ella, ella me hizo dudar de mí misma. Ella me preguntó lo que vi en el espejo. Le respondí que me vi, pero me pregunto una vez más, esta vez me pregunto sobre mi género. Estaba tan devastada, y en lugar de luchar por

por lo que yo he sufrido en mi vida. He sabido toda mi vida que soy diferente, y lo he aceptado, pero sabiendo que mi madre no lo ha aceptado realmente me duele.

Creo que ningún niño debería crecer con la sensación de no ser deseado, sin apoyo, o ser rechazado por uno de sus padres. No quiero que ninguna persona pase

Siempre sentí que era niña. Me entristece que mi madre nunca ha aceptado esto.

Me ponía camisas en la cabeza y ngía que tenía pelo largo y hermoso,. Si veía a una mujer en la televisión, me gustaba tratar de imitarla tanto como pude.

Era un niño valiente que jugaba a los 'novios' conmigo. Por supuesto, yo siempre iba a jugar la novia, o cualquier papel de la mujer en todos lo que jugamos. Mi madre pensó que era raro y me desanimó de la actuación femenina, pero a mi no me importaba.

Cuando era un niña, recuerdo que tiene una amigo.

A pesar de que me mostró cariño, nunca me sentí que el amor de mi madre era auténtico. Ella siempre fue distante y me menospreciaba.

Mi madre nunca estaba en casa porque trabajaba todo el día, por lo que mi hermana mayor se convirtió en una madre sustituta y se ocupó de mí. Ella, junto con mi otra hermana, básicamente me crió. Permitieron y me animaron a que yo me convertirse en la persona que soy hoy. Estoy agradecida por lo que han hecho por mí, sin embargo, me gustaría que mi madre me hubiera tratado de la misma manera.

Aunque sólo tengo 18 años de edad, he tenido un viaje muy difícil. Mamás, según los estándares de la sociedad, se supone que deben ser guras que cuidan y que aceptan a sus hijos, pero yo no he tenido el lujo de tener eso en mi vida.

Yo crecí con una madre soltera, y desde que era un niña, nunca tuvimos una relación cercana porque yo era "diferente".

Por lo menos no ha sido para mí.

Los padres bende tener la mente abierta y aceptar, sobre todo cuando se trata de sus hijos, pero sé que esto no es siempre el caso.

Por Alice Herrera

Querida Madre, Te necesito

We’Ced is supported by a grant from The California Endowment.

Claudia J. Gonzalez, Directora de Programa y Editora

voz. Nuestra lucha continúa. Este es el año para ser audaces. Este es el año de la juventud.

Quiero reiterar el mensaje de Cruz. Jóvenes de Merced, ustedes no están solos. No tengan miedo de hablar. Siempre estaremos aquí para apoyarlos, para levantar sus historias, y para darles una

oso para los niños: No tengan miedo. No están solos.

Sophie Cruz, animó a los asistentes a luchar con "amor, fe y valor" para proteger a las familias y a los ciudadanos más vulnerables de nuestras comunidades. Ella también tenía un mensaje -poder

Hace unas semanas, durante la Marcha de Mujeres en Washington D.C., la activista de seis años,

plataforma para los jóvenes a hablar y luchar para cambiar el statu quo.

We'Ced Youth Media ha sido el rayo de esperanza para la voz juvenil de Merced. Estamos -com prometidos a cambiar la narrativa en torno a los jóvenes, pero sobre todo, a proporcionar una

de dólares a la inversión juvenil en el presupuesto 2016-2017, enviando nalmente el mensaje que los jóvenes valen sólo un par de centavos. Aunque casi la mitad de la población de Merced tiene menos de 24 años, las voces juveniles siguen siendo ignoradas a medida que las cuestiones que las afectan crecen de manera constante.

En un movimiento denunciado por la comunidad, el ayuntamiento asignó sólo unos pocos miles

El 2016 fue un año difícil para los jóvenes. A nivel nacional, los jóvenes de todo el país quedaron devastados por los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales. Localmente, los líderes de la ciudad de Merced una vez más optaron por invertir en la policía en lugar de proporcionar -opor tunidades para sus residentes jóvenes .

Nota del Editor

Email: weced@newamericamedia.org

Instagram: @wecedyouth

Facebook: /wecedyouthmedia/

Twitter: @WeCedYouthMedia

Web: wecedyouth.org

We’Ced Youth Media

Claudia Gonzalez

Seguin - Leah Wight - Natalie Wight -

Rivera - Alex Salas-Nisa Salazar - Victor

David Macias - Layla Ornelas - Crystal

Herrera - Aaliyah Lannerd - Nate Lopez -

Dominguez - Hannah Esqueda - Alice

Palabras: Cassandra Avitia - Robert Cervantez -Jesus

Maria Alvarez

Jefa de Finanzas de New America Media

America Media - Sandy Close

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Traducción - Paulina Rojas

Fotogra a - Alyssa Castro & Crystal Rivera

Director de Arte - Kreepy Kawaii

Mentora - Leah Wight

Reportera - Hannah Esqueda

Assistente de Programa- Crystal Rivera

Claudia J. Gonzalez

Administradora de Program e Editora

Alheli Cuenca

YouthWire Coordinadora Estatal

Tim Haydock

YouthWire Director de Programa

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Querida Madre, Te Necesito

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