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.
SURROUNDED BY PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS
by Chineze Gregoire
Although there were many reasons why being a part of YouthBridge was a great match for me, I joined YouthBridge because I have a deep passion for understanding my community and saw an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. One element of the program that appealed to me was that YouthBridge seemed like an incredible space where young leaders come together to dive deep into topics like public health, self-advocacy, and community outreach—issues that directly shape the lives of people in New York City. I love that YouthBridge fosters a supportive and engaging environment where I can learn from others, share my perspectives, and challenge myself to think critically about solutions to real-world problems. I also find that during the meetings I push myself out of my comfort zone by engaging in the conversation and sharing with my peers, allowing me to move past moments of self-doubt and harness my ability to speak up. The meeting times are especially valuable because they provide a dedicated space to further educate myself on pressing issues affecting my city and become a more informed and active advocate for change.
When I entered the YouthBridge program, I expected to feel a strong sense of collaboration and camaraderie, surrounded by peers who were just as passionate about making a difference. I anticipated engaging in meaningful discussions about health crises that intersect with various identities, shedding light on the gaps in the American healthcare system. I also expected to explore the injustices caused by racial prejudice, ethnic biases, and the general ignorance that leads to the suffering of marginalized communities in the United States. I was eager to learn, challenge my perspectives, and work alongside others to find ways to advocate for real change in our society.
One of the biggest highlights of the Healthcare Disparities committee for me was learning about maternal mortality. It was my favorite moment because it expanded the knowledge that I already had and opened my eyes to just how many people in New York City are affected by this crisis, because it is often overlooked in the healthcare community. Maternal mortality is incredibly dangerous, yet it doesn’t receive nearly enough attention even though the United States has one of the highest maternal death rates among developed nations. What struck me the most was how disproportionately it affects women of color due to systemic racism, lack of access to quality care, and medical professionals dismissing their pain and concerns. This discussion deepened my understanding of the urgent need for reform in our healthcare system and reinforced my commitment to this program because it amplified issues that are too often disregarded.
I am incredibly excited to be a Fellow at YouthBridge and continue deepening my knowledge of public health while expanding my horizons. This program has already opened my eyes to so many critical issues, and I can't wait to keep learning, engaging in thought-provoking discussions, and developing a stronger understanding of the systemic challenges our communities face. Beyond the learning aspect, I am also eager to continue building on the bonds I’ve formed in the Healthcare Disparities committee. The connections I’ve made so far have been meaningful, and I look forward to strengthening those friendships while developing new ones with others in the program. Being surrounded by passionate, like-minded individuals makes this experience even more inspiring, and I’m excited to grow alongside them as we work toward positive change.
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS TO CREATE CHANGE
by Zach Simon
When I joined YouthBridge, I wanted to learn how to apply myself to issues that I cared about, allowing me to make a meaningful difference in my community. YouthBridge offered me an opportunity to do this while navigating diversity in New York City and forming close relationships with people who shared the same mindset as me.
Going into the first Food Justice committee meeting I was apprehensive. I didn’t know anyone in the committee and I knew very little about food justice. However, upon meeting my peers, I quickly realized that they knew as little as I did. Throughout our meetings, I was fascinated by inequalities and inequities of food throughout not only the country but the entire world. Each month, through lessons, discussions, and simulating activities, I soon learned how deep and how frequent the issues in our food system run.
One of my favorite memories from the Food Justice committee was a simulation we completed as a group. We took on the collective role of a broke college student and tried to make it through just a few days without going into debt. Right away, we learned how hard it was to have access to quality and affordable meals while staying healthy and in school. I specifically liked this activity because it presented a very real and possible future for not only us, but many of the people our age that we knew. We saw how much of a struggle present students and people are faced with, and saw the privilege that we had not yet known about the problems of food access on such a personal level.
Looking forward, I am excited to learn more about efforts being made to fix the widespread food insecurities in our country, and how I can take action to not only help but lead these movements.
RECOGNIZING THE CHALLENGES AND PRIVILEGES WE FACE
by Malek Benjelloun
Last summer, I was looking for a way to learn about making change, and how to get to that point where you can have the skills and knowledge needed to do so. When I found YouthBridge, I immediately knew it was a great match. Getting to see the friends I've made, and going to see these great speakers talk about their experiences and ways they go about creating change on a daily basis has really been worth it.
During our last skillbuilding meeting, we got to once again host Mr. Kao, who presented to us on the subject of diversity; but more importantly, what characteristics of a person determine how we feel about ourselves and others. He did this through the “Dot Exercise,” where he gave each of us 12 stickers separated into 4 different colors, before asking us to place them on a chart with different aspects of identities on them. These ranged from religion, to age, and were meant to represent all of the different ways a person could be categorized. To place them we were given prompts asking in which of these categories we felt safe, attacked, privileged, and other questions of the sort. Through the presentation and the discussions that went on while the activity was happening, we got a sense of how such a wide range of people can be impacted in these basic categories that define much of who we are. Many answers were similar, but there were moments and opportunities that stood out - where we get to learn from each other and recognize the challenges or privileges that we face as a community.
It was such an enjoyable meeting, but at the same time we got an important lesson out of it. That should be what learning is about, and it’s always these interesting exercises that are important since they keep people aware of the diverse crowd all around them. I'm looking forward to all the other activities that we get to do, whether it be with the entirety of YouthBridge, like our retreats and skill building workshops, or with a smaller group like the Criminal Justice Reform committee I get to be a part of. And I hope that we get to see more of this style of workshop soon. I'm excited to be back for the next one!