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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.