Winter 2022

A lot has happened since our orientation retreat in August, where we welcomed new eleventh grade fellows into the Fellowship and twelfth grade Bridgers into their second year.  Fellows and Bridgers have been busy attending skill-building sessions, committee meetings, hearing from our alumni, and joining together for team building and bonding activities.  Read more below and check out some photo highlights of the year so far!

A Community That Strengthens Me

by Yijin Dong

I wasn't sure if I should join Youth Bridge until I met Tiffany and Karen at the interview...

My name is Yijin Dong and I am a student at Brooklyn Technical High School. Our school sends out daily emails with a list of volunteer and internship opportunities. It was a normal weekday when I opened the email and saw that orange and red logo. I searched YouthBridge online and was intrigued by "youth" and "diversity". Immediately thereafter, I checked the application deadline and found that it was due in a week! I panicked for a moment because I was debating whether my counselor would agree to write a recommendation for me on such short notice - but I gave it a shot.

Unlike many of my previous interviews, I felt relaxed and excited during the YouthBridge interview. It wasn't like a formal interview, but rather an open discussion about our lives. Karen and Tiffany created a super comfortable atmosphere where I quickly felt safe to express my true feelings. While there are many organizations with similar missions, Tiffany and Karen showed absolute compassion as I shared my story. I was drawn to their empowerment. As a Chinese immigrant who is trying to integrate into American society, YouthBridge is the right and safe place for me.

I have met so many incredibly talented and heart-warming teens and professionals with diverse backgrounds here. We are all somewhat different in race, culture, and physical appearance. But we all share the same passion for making a difference in the world and making it a better place. I always gain a new perspective and a greater understanding of today's society from every workshop I attend. I have been an advocate for BLM, the LTGBTQ+ community, fighting hate crimes, and many other issues. However, through YouthBridge, I have learned that real-life inequality is not just limited to the hot topics on social media. Growing up in a world with entrenched media, my outlook on life was limited by the censorship on the internet and the limited perspective in school. YouthBridge helped me understand the dangers of a "single story" and proved the importance of education.

Plus, it's an amazing community that prepares young people for their future careers! For example, on December 15, we had a workshop on marketing and communication. The course we attended was similar to a business masters class in college. In just 2 hours, I learned some key communication skills: How does your product meet the needs of your customers? 

A "product" is not limited to an actual item that has a certain price. It can be an idea, a relationship, or even a value. To help us better understand the main concepts of communication, we did an interesting activity. We made a list of 4 some "silly" words and then formed them into 4 marked ideas. One of our funny plans our group came up with was to sell nail services to the dinosaurs at the zoo. Our mentor didn't object to our seemingly "impossible" plan; instead, she encouraged us to use our creativity to make it happen.

There have been countless moments in this small but loving community that have touched and strengthened me. I am very much looking forward to seeing how my future self will change here!

Lead With Curiosity

by Erina Chowdhury

A vision of a future led by diverse teens across NYC who care for their community — hearing this mission not only inspired me, but made me want to get involved. As someone who’s been surrounded by the same people for 16 years, I loved my community in every small detail — from its interesting people, to wondrous sights, and comforting smells — it is my home. Although I thoroughly enjoyed this tight knit community, I wanted to experience more. With my love for learning and hearing new perspectives, YouthBridge was the space for people like me, to meet new people and develop leadership skills that would be meaningful in every sphere of life. My expectations were fulfilled and even expanded; I had the ability to make lifelong friendships and learn more about myself throughout the workshops and experience in the Criminal Justice Reform Committee. Not only have I had the ability to meet individuals who were affected by the Justice System, I continue to learn from Tiffany and my peers how this system works and affects BIPOC in various negative ways. I enjoy being in an atmosphere of teens, like me, who are actively engaged, open-minded, and ready to learn entirely new ideas each week!

Our recent workshop with Project Reach was insightful and helped me to understand unconscious systems of bias towards people, specifically LGBTQ+ folks. I honestly had no expectations for this workshop; however, I had a positive feeling because of how much I liked our last skillbuilding workshop with Project Reach. I knew from the get-go that I’ll enjoy this workshop, once again, due to the intimate atmosphere and engaging facilitators. We all started off by having a deep conversation with one of our fellows about when we first saw a gay/lesbian person in our whole lives. My friend and I actually had a realization on how the media continues to be heteronormative and lack diversity within our favorite shows (specifically K-Dramas). I felt comfortable sharing my point of view about a topic I’ve never delved into before because of my peers and atmosphere. Other highlights include sharing our perspectives on how our families view different sexualities and similar identities, and play a game that explored our perceptions on LGBTQ+ folks. This space felt open and relaxed enough for us all to chat openly about our experiences and how it shapes our similar or entirely different viewpoints. The game was super interesting: we compared our first impression words of certain scenarios to later reflect and view our group responses. After our reflection, we all understood how we’re unconsciously wired to think a heteronormative norm without realizing. Overall, this workshop was deeply fascinating and delved into important topics including LGBTQ+ hate, discrimination, and prejudice through community-building.

My experience at YouthBridge continues to be super fun and helps me to stay open-minded and lead with curiosity in each meeting. I enjoy all the new friends I’ve made and continue to, while also learning essential leadership skills that will be used effectively in my broader community. I will always look forward to each meeting with discussions about difficult topics in our comfortable space, continuous laughs with all my fellow peers, and the endless learning I’ll gain from everyone that contributes to YouthBridge.

Fall 2022

We have started off the program year with a bang! Beginning with our orientation retreat in August, we welcomed new eleventh grade Fellows into the Fellowship and twelfth grade Bridgers into their second year. Fellows and Bridgers have been busy attending skill-building sessions, committee meetings, hearing from our alumni, and joining together for team building and bonding activities. Read more below and check out some highlights of the season!

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW

by Kristen Lau

I've spent my entire life in the same small community, and I've always wanted to get out of my “bubble.” When I first heard about YouthBridge, I was immediately drawn to the program because of the topics it explores such as diversity, inequality, and leadership, so of course I was thrilled when I received my acceptance email. Since then, I've gotten to know the other Fellows thanks to our meeting in Bryant Park, the Overnight Retreat at Stony Point Center, and our September and October Skillbuilding workshops and Social Action Committees. The Overnight Retreat was a fantastic experience because it brought a lot of the Fellows and Bridgers together for the first time. During the retreat, we completed a variety of icebreakers and activities, but we also began to delve into more complex topics such as racism, power, and privilege. My personal favorite activity at the retreat was Youthbridge Neighborhood. We were divided into four groups, and each group was given a certain amount of materials as well as money to purchase additional materials to build their own neighborhood. What we didn’t realize until later, though, was the true purpose of the game. Each group was given a different level of privilege; the more privileged groups had more space for their neighborhood, more money, more materials, and were not as heavily policed as the less privileged groups. Even though my group felt discriminated against because we were closely watched by the police and had significantly less money than some of the other groups, we thought it was normal because we didn't notice the other groups’ privilege until the activity was over. It was certainly eye-opening, as it helped me better understand the power that people with privilege frequently do not use due to ignorance or simply a refusal to help.

Overall, my YouthBridge experience has been great as a member of the Food Justice Committee. I look forward to each meeting because I always leave with more knowledge or a new perspective on an idea that I already had. The community that has been created is incredible, and I have already learned a lot from my mentors. I hope to keep pushing myself to grow and learn in order to become the best version of myself, something which YouthBridge has helped with over the past few months. I can’t wait to see how much I learn over the next two years! 

AN EPIPHANY

by Daiana Azimova

I first learned about YouthBridge through an internship coordinator at my school. After learning about it, I decided to do some digging and learn more about the program through surfing the website. As I read the testaments and saw the faces of alumni, I realized that this program is absolutely perfect for me. Seeing the genuine diversity and commitment to inclusivity, I was more eager to apply. Ever since I have learned about advocacy, I have always tried my best to stand up for my beliefs and principles. At YouthBridge, I am able to not only improve my advocacy skills but also acquaint myself with new knowledge. 

The moment I began my interview with Tiffany and Karen, I could feel the welcome and acceptance, even through a Zoom screen. After that, it only got better. I had little to no expectations for the first workshop, I thought it would be cliché like interviewing or resume writing. But, when I first stepped foot into the room, I knew it was going to be way more than the basic professionalism skills. Tiffany and Sharon led the "Understanding Ourselves and Others," which I was enticed by. I was in a room with individuals from across the city and a neighboring state—who each come from different backgrounds—learning and actively participating. 

Despite me already having done some of the activities planned, this time around I saw them in a different perspective. I absolutely loved playing the invitation and greeting game with the different colored cards and groups. It not only gave me a chance to get to know the people I’ll be seeing for the next 8 months but to also see interactions of people with different customs. It immensely helped me understand that people grow up different and are taught different things. This makes communication an important factor in understanding that some people do things differently.

During this workshop session, it felt as though it was necessary to be different and not in a bad way. It showed that when different people come together, they can create something beautiful. There I was, laughing with people I have never met and bonding over our differences that makes each one of us unique. This workshop was an epiphany, which I will remember for the rest of my life. 

I am excited to be a part of such a diverse family as a participant and in the future as an alumni. Also, I am very eager to see what YouthBridge has in store for us. Lastly, I look forward to all of the meaningful and deep conversations, laughs, and lessons we will share.

AN ENTIRELY NEW PICTURE

by Hallel Abrams Gerber

Wanting to expand my perspective, meet new people and gain leadership skills, I excitedly applied for the fellowship. Through the interview process, I developed a real sense of camaraderie with the interviewees. The thought-provoking interview questions challenged and encouraged us to think deeply and critically about our own environments. We discussed active change we sought to make in the world around us and found similarities across our various experiences, despite all coming from different boroughs, schools, and backgrounds. I really wanted to be part of this amazing and thoughtful group of people and was beyond thrilled to be accepted! 

This led to the difficult choice of choosing a committee. I had done research into food deserts through school and was thus attracted to the ‘Food Justice’ committee. I come from a background of debate, so ‘Criminal Justice Reform’ also sparked interest. However, in the end, I chose ‘Healthcare Disparities.’ I am fascinated by the world of psychology and the ways in which the multifaceted nature of healthcare includes both the physical and mental aspects of a person. I have seen the direct ways in which healthcare — or lack thereof — radically transforms the trajectory of someone’s life. I had the beginnings of an understanding of historical prejudices and the ways in which discrimination has affected the lived experience of healthcare in this country. I sought to develop my knowledge further and learn ways in which to make a sizable difference in this regard. 

I had no idea the extent of these discrepancies, however, until I joined this committee. Through visual, auditory, and interactive information, I have gained an entirely new picture and even been motivated to continue research on my own time. I have learned from the array of people in this cohort, who bring their unique and diverse experiences and meaningful interpretations. From applying tools by the “Teaching Tolerance” Program in order to analyze our own schools and their opportunities for growth, to studying horrifying and disproportionate statistics on the treatment of underprivileged groups, to motivational and fervent speeches on fair treatment, I have been immersed in truly important discussions and lessons. I have definitely found myself examining my own communities with a more nuanced eye to identify the differences we studied and actively addressing my own biases.

I am so excited to see where this road will lead. If this much has happened in the two months of this program, I cannot wait to see what we will be able to do over these two years.

Summer 2022

SPECIAL FEATURE

GRADUATION

Below are some reflections from our Fellows and graduated Bridgers about their time in the Fellowship. We want to wish a hearty congratulations to all of our graduated Seniors, it has been a pleasure knowing each and every one of you, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish in the years to come!

GOOD CAN COME OUT OF HAVING EMPATHY AND COMPASSION FOR OTHERS

by Lalleyah Camara

I am officially at the end of my first year as a part of the YouthBridge family. 

From the very first time I heard of YouthBridge, besides being moved by all the great work done by the previous classes, I was intrigued by its devotion to diversity and inclusivity. Well, actually my initial thought was, “well of course they have to say they're diverse, but are they really?”. So after the shortest research time in the history of research, I found pictures of Bridgers and Fellows from previous years. More specifically I saw pictures of Bridgers and Fellows who looked just like me. I saw other hijab-wearing women of color sitting in seats I hoped to soon fill; and It was then that I realized YouthBridge’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity was nothing less than the truth.

I quickly realized that my immediate assumption was wrong and YouthBridge became something I honestly looked forward to hopefully being a part of. In my time here I've learned so many things from how to literally take action in my community as a teenager through advocacy workshops; all the way to learning how to get rid of my own biases towards people through diversity workshops and learned how to ask the right questions when discussing tough topics with tough people.

 While all those examples are beneficial to me, in my opinion, the most important thing I've learned here at YouthBridge is that so much good can come out of having Empathy and Compassion for others. In order to create change that will last lifetimes, it is important to not just hear people out but take the time to feel what others feel. 

I can say with certainty that all the skills I have, and will develop during my time at YouthBridge will stay with me throughout my life; and I am proud to call myself a YouthBridge Fellow and soon to be Bridger. Thank you!

THIS WASN’T AN ORDINARY FELLOWSHIP

by Ali Saab

It’s amazing to see all these familiar faces and reflect on all the discussions and conversations we’ve had over this past year. I’ve always been an outgoing person, which pushed me to apply for this fellowship. My older cousin and brother are YouthBridge alumni, and my sister Widad is a Bridger graduating today. My siblings that were in YouthBridge had such high praise for it, and so did the people with them. So it motivated me and Tijan, my classmate at Razi School, to apply in our sophomore year. 

I wasn’t a hundred percent on board because I was used to working or being with my friends after school. The average 15 year old doesn’t really think about being a leader or trying to make a difference. But that’s what separates the students here at YouthBridge and students anywhere else. 

We weren’t average 15 year olds. We aren’t average 16 year olds. And the Bridgers graduating today aren’t average 17 year olds. Why? From the first meeting, I saw that this wasn’t an ordinary fellowship with a lot of overused proverbs or boring exercises. It was different. It was diverse. 

But it wasn’t just diverse in the way everyone interprets the word. Of course, there were different faces and people from different backgrounds, but what’s really diverse is everyone’s perception. Each and every person I’ve met this year had their own unique interpretation of the lecture we were given or task at hand. 

These workshops and committee meetings provided us with guidance in a city that’s always been extremely fast-paced and demanding. What I thought would be an uninteresting fellowship at first quickly became a safe refuge for aspiring teenagers transitioning into early adulthood, because we were given the freedom to explore and ask relevant questions. 

One great memory I had, and hopefully other Fellows had, was when we discussed the New York subway slap. We spoke about who was at fault and who was right in that situation, and how the people around them escalated it. I thought the man and lady that fought would end up as lovers, but it didn’t work in my favor. Some fellows disagreed, but that’s what YouthBridge is all about. DIVERSITY. How does my background affect my perspective, and how does your background affect yours? How could we use our different perspectives to work with each other, and more importantly TEACH each other to utilize it outside the four walls we call YouthBridge-New York. 

Again, I’ve always been a pretty social and outgoing person, but my participation in YouthBridge increased my leadership and collaboration skills with pretty much everything. At work, it’s easier for me to communicate and compromise with my colleagues. And at school, it’s become easier to lead other students when it comes to group projects or extracurricular activities. 

The lessons I’ve learned through two hour meetings a few times a month will be some of the most important I’ve ever learned, and I am certain I’ll utilize them with me in the real world, whether it be in university or at work. 

This way of thinking, bringing in students from different cultures, areas, backgrounds, and motivating them to represent diversity produces stronger personalities and a more open-minded perspective. I am truly grateful to be a part of this program up until now. Thank you Karen, Tiffany, and Aliza for all your hard work. None of this would be possible without you. Each of you have dedicated so much time and energy for us to widen our perspective and establish strong relationships with each other, and the memories here will always be in our hearts. 

Thank you to all the Fellows for participating and being a part of each other’s journeys until now. I’m appreciative of all of you for being able to make this experience fun and engaging. I hope next year is just as enjoyable as this one. 

THE FACE OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE

by Daniella Sanchez-Barillas

When I first joined YouthBridge and attended my first meeting, I feared many things. I fussed over what interactions I might have with my peers, I stewed over how this program may impact the course of my future, and I was troubled by how I might find my place in this program. I now stand before you all assuring you that these things I once feared led me to discover my purpose, harbored with the help of YouthBridge. 

Through this program, through the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, I was exposed to very real flaws in the Justice System that had since been neglected. Learning topics such as the school-to-prison pipeline, analyzing solitary confinement, examining different forms of criminal justice reform, and watching countless videos on the distresses of those previously convicted of crimes. My naive perspective of a seemingly well-constructed system of justice was forced to broaden more and more as my YouthBridge meetings continued. And thus I found myself becoming a more well-rounded student, person, and participant in the reform of the future of our society. 

In fact, it was with YouthBridge that I pushed myself to understand other fellows' opposition in addition to finding effective ways of communicating so that we all would be in agreement. We learned the necessity of confiding in each other and relying on the trust of being in an open environment, free from the stress of being judged. We, as fellows, and of course with the assistance, found ourselves being compelled to experience the lives of those we had been learning about, and empathized with how the cards of life had been stacked against them. So while I stand now, talking to all of you, I emphasize just how big of a role YouthBridge played in the broadening of my perspective of my blythe-like life with respect to the justice system, and it is because of YouthBridge that I strive to help in whatever way I can to improve the system, as an obligation to all of those in it. 

 I, along with all my other fellows, are now the face of a hopefully, brighter future, one we must take the responsibility of nurturing to the very best we can make it to be. 

We, thanks to YouthBridge, must create the world we want to live in rather than simply continue in the one we exist in.

Thank you!

A BETTER PERSON AND MEMBER OF SOCIETY

by Joseph Doft

This year, I was part of the Healthcare Disparities Committee.

When my cousin Izzie first started YouthBridge and explained the experience to me, I instantly knew I wanted to partake. My entire life I had been surrounded mostly by one type of people with similar backgrounds, values and ideals. Joining this fellowship would allow me to meet teens from my city that had different backgrounds, perspectives, and lives than me. This desire of mine has so far been met and exceeded. Great speakers, kind and adamant partners, and of course our leaders have allowed me to put my feet in others' shoes and think beyond my own experiences. However, this experience has also given me a chance to connect with people instead of just learning with and from them: Our teamwork building workshop not only allowed me to learn teamwork skills but also to meet my peers and do fun activities with them (even though the shape guessing game was Very, very stressful). Breakout rooms and small group meetings during this year have allowed me to learn the personalities of my peers while we discuss important issues and learn from each other’s perspective. 

Lastly, Youthbridge has taught me the process and importance of charity towards organizations in which I and my committee feel connected to. It is one thing to know what the right thing is, but it is another to act on that knowledge and help others in need. Being part of the Healthcare Disparities committee has allowed me to become connected with the cause of helping those who have been on the short end of the healthcare disparities in our country and the world. Using the knowledge gained from countless meetings and discussions to picture what kind of organization I would want to contribute to was eye opening. Speaking of contributing to an organization for a specific cause, The Bridging the Gap Grant process has allowed me to become familiar with the struggles of choosing one organization to donate to as well as the process of how to choose that organization. Doing research, talking with my peers, and getting to know each organization propelled me to choose the one my fellows and I felt suited our mission the best: For the Better Inc.

This year has been a great learning experience for me as well as a great opportunity to meet new people from all over the city and with drastically different backgrounds. I can’t wait to continue my journey and learn to become a better person and member of society!

BUILDING NEW CONNECTIONS AND STRENGTHENING ONES I ALREADY HAD

by Angelina Acevedo

We have learned a lot this past year through interactive ways. We learned about the school to prison pipeline and realized how much impact it truly has. If you’re not sure what that is don’t worry I will explain. The school to prison pipeline or link is when youth are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal legal system. Students of color are the people that this mostly affects. More public schools are adding police as their disciplinaries instead of teachers and counselors. These students would benefit from additional support and resources; however, they are isolated and pushed out. The “zero tolerance“ policy is doing more harm than good. It criminalizes minor infractions of school rules and cops in schools lead to students being criminalized for behaviors that should be handled at school. This topic personally affected me because I have friends that go to public school that have to deal with this everyday. It is important people are educated on this topic because knowledge is power. We played a game where we had partners and we had to roll a dice and whatever number it landed that’s the choice we were forced to choose. That activity was eye opening and really put into perspective how choices and certain circumstances affect your life and set your path. 

Overall, this past year at YouthBridge has helped build new connections but also strengthen ones that I already had, like with Charmel. I loved being around a diverse group of people my age and it really helped me feel more comfortable as a Latina young woman. This was a great year and can’t wait to see what next year brings!

WHAT WE CAN ALL DO FOR THE COMMUNITY

by Charmel Apilan

My name is Charmel Apilan. I am also a part of the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, and I am a rising senior attending the Notre Dame School of Manhattan. Being raised in a predominantly white Catholic school my whole life, resulted in my obliviousness to the importance of diversity and exposure to different environments. From kindergarten to 8th grade, I stayed in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge, seeing the same faces everyday and constantly trying to figure out how I, a Filipina, could blend in with my white counterparts. It was not until high school, when I finally gained knowledge on the importance of inclusion and openness. YouthBridge is a major factor that contributed to my wokeness on the disputes and injustices of today’s society. In fact, I learned that some of these injustices tend to be the result of America’s history, which is a controversial topic for most people. My YouthBridge mentors guided me to gain such knowledge and to use my voice in discussions about sensitive topics such as racial discrimination and prejudice. In this past school year, YouthBridge exposed me to individuals of various cultures who share the characteristic of being a proud New Yorker.  Despite the fact that we held a few meetings over zoom, YouthBridge taught me that exposure to diversity is so crucial in an individual’s mentality and personal growth. Each culture, nationality, and individual views the world in a unique way. When we combine these unique perspectives, we each learn a thing or two about ourselves and each other. 

Without YouthBridge, I would not have gained the confidence to publicly speak with you all tonight. As a student, I would consider myself as quiet and conserved. But because of the YouthBridge community, I’ve seen what we can all do for the community, starting with the Bridging the Gap grant and learning about our winner, Reentry Theater of Harlem. And I have friends who encourage me to use up all my potential. So thank you Angelina for motivating me to do this speech. 

I am lucky to be surrounded by students my age who are of high intellect and who voluntarily want to improve their knowledge on the realities of life. I look forward to next school year and what YouthBridge has in store for all of us.

INSPIRED TO TAKE ACTION

by Jahric Serrant

I still remember the day I was accepted to YouthBridge…

The word ‘injustice’ is often associated with law and order, but there is another world of injustice in America’s food distribution system. The lack of food justice is disproportionately evident in low-income communities around the U.S. When choosing my committee, I subconsciously disregarded Food Justice because I was unaware of the magnitude of its effect on society. Like many of my fellows, I wanted to join the Criminal Justice Committee. I must admit I was a bit disappointed when I was placed on the food justice committee, but I immediately realized there was so much to learn and how important this committee is to society. We are fighting a social issue seldom talked about, yet very relevant to our day-to-day life. 

During my committee meetings at YouthBridge, we initially learned about food deserts and the importance of food security. Low-income communities struggle with food security because they often do not have access to healthy and cost-efficient food. After learning about food security, I have a whole new outlook on how I view society and my neighborhood. Meetings with organizations like FoodStream and Backpack Buddies inspired me to take action such as brainstorming ideas on ways my committee members and I can impact the neighborhoods around us. Through monthly meetings, this committee has made me appreciate food security and its importance to society. 

Also every month we would meet as a whole cohort and have many memorable conferences. My favorite meeting was during the beginning of the school year at the Project Reach Chinese American Planning Council. We had to choose to save some people over others based on stereotypes. It was difficult because we had to make assumptions about random people based on small details. It was extremely fun hearing everyone’s rationale for who they left behind. It is rare to find a community where everyone has different perspectives but also respect for others. Especially after Covid, these meetings have been an outlet of expression for me and also have drastically improved my communication skills. YouthBridge has turned me into a leader in my academic and social communities.  

I can’t wait for my senior year of the fellowship and to gather again with my peers to discuss important issues. In addition, I am looking forward to being a continued member of the fellowship and an agent of change for food justice!

And on behalf of the Food Justice committee, I am happy to announce our Bridging the Gap grant winner: Backpack Buddies! Thank you again, and congratulations!

THE URGE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

by Widad Saab

YouthBridge has taught me so many vital lessons that I know I will take with me and use in so many different aspects of my life.

I first heard about this fellowship through my older brother Hassan. In all honesty, I didn't want to apply to YouthBridge. I never did anything in relation to advocating for causes or supporting communities. It was a situation where I felt that no matter my opinion, things wouldn't change. At the time, I didn't understand how a 16-year-old’s voice could make a difference. 

Regardless of my disinterest, I still applied to YouthBridge because my brother pushed for me to, and I thank him every day that he did. At my interview, I was genuinely surprised. It was the first time in a long time I felt that my opinion mattered. Karen and Tiffany asked me about my experiences throughout high school and my views on national issues, which made me feel heard.

It was such a delight when I got accepted into YouthBridge because I knew that it was the first step toward becoming a better person altogether. I was put in the criminal justice reform committee in my junior year. We were informed about the history of mass incarceration, the school-to-prison pipeline, how the prison system works, and how it influences whoever is in it. 

My junior year at YouthBridge was fully remote due to COVID, but Karen and Tiffany put so much effort into making it as interactive as possible. With each Zoom meeting, I became increasingly engaged in learning about modern issues and how to aid them. We did activities and had terrific guest speakers that let us fellows feel like we have a voice that can do something proactive to alter the course of history. 

One extremely vital life lesson I’ve learned through YouthBridge is that everyone’s opinion matters, even if you disagree with it. Through this fellowship, we were taught how to express our thoughts and formulate opinions after being educated on topics. When you learn to respect the words of others and open your mind to other possibilities, you will learn to grow as a person. 

YouthBridge is a remarkable opportunity for New York City students to learn how to use their voices. When I first applied, I wasn't very fond of the idea of speaking with other students my age about topics that didn’t directly affect me. But now that I’ve been a part of this beautiful experience, I wish I had taken more advantage of it, and I am disheartened that it has come to an end.

This two-year fellowship has offered me so much support and has assisted me in becoming a more refined person who is dedicated to continuing to learn about contemporary issues and how to use my voice to combat them.

In my senior year at YouthBridge, we were offered resources to help us to apply to, and get accepted into, our dream colleges. At one of our first meetings this year, YouthBridge alumni were invited to join a Zoom call with us and share their experiences post-fellowship. They explained how they paid for their undergraduate degree at college, how they joined clubs that were involved in bettering their college communities, and how they learned to keep using their voice to advocate for what they believed in. I feel like I can speak for all the senior fellows this year in saying that the meeting honestly helped us so much by offering us such enlightening advice. 

In March of this year, us seniors were invited to meet with New York City professionals and donors of YouthBridge to have one-on-one conversations with them. They all offered such fantastic advice on how to build up your resume, how your work ethic is vital, and how important it is to meet and listen to people who have experienced so many things- because you never know what you can learn from someone.

YouthBridge is rightfully well known for helping high school students find their voice and be proactive in their communities, no matter how small the issues may seem. 

I want to genuinely, genuinely, genuinely thank Tiffany, Karen, and my fellows for making this fellowship an experience I will never forget. I am confident I will take everything I’ve learned thus far and implement it into every aspect of my future at college and whatever follows for me.

I can proudly say that I am actively encouraging all of my sophomore friends to apply to YouthBridge because every meeting at YouthBridge has left me wanting to do more for my community.

I feel as though everyone should have the urge to make the world a better place, and YouthBridge helps you do just that.

I hope to see my fellow Bridgers do amazing things with everything we’ve learned throughout our two years at YouthBridge!

Spring 2022

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.

---

MAKE A CHANGE AND BREAK CYCLES

By Aishah Awotubo Qasim

Image source: https://stringfixer.com/tags/debate

I applied to YouthBridge last year with so much enthusiasm that it was a leadership program. I was so fascinated as I have always wanted to be a leader, now not just any leader I’ve always been someone that wanted to make a change, and break cycles. To offer someone something however you need to be skilled and passionate about your way of helping. The place I feel I'm skilled at is hospitality, and making someone feel cared for. The best way for me to demonstrate this is through the health field. That's why upon joining YouthBridge I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join the Health Care Disparities committee, and dive deeper into the healthcare system. Not to my surprise, it has been just amazing, I have had the opportunity to look up various healthcare conditions in different parts of the world, and see how much of an impact status and race had on our healthcare provisions in America. Not only that, I have gotten to work with my mates, who are just as goal-oriented as me, if not, more.

One specific activity that stood out to me was when we had to debate and take a stance for or against the healthcare system in America. This activity stood out to me because during this debate, my peers brought up different countries' healthcare systems like Canada, Afghanistan, etc. This experience helped me learn that arguing on the least favorable side of a debate doesn’t hold your success. It taught me that every country is striving for their healthcare but America is choosing to deprive a certain group from getting a good one. As a whole, being part of the YouthBridge community and this committee has helped me learn to challenge the healthcare system in America. It has made me feel a greater sense of community, and also helped me see what a good leader is as I have perfect examples of leaders (my mentors). I look forward to gaining much more from this program, and I know it’s going to be awesome!

---

BRINGING A COMFORTABLE AND DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT

By Angelina Acevedo

A screenshot from the Criminal Justice Reform Committee’s session on the School to Prison Pipeline

I really appreciate how devoted YouthBridge is to bringing a comfortable and diverse environment. We handle heavy topics like environmental and criminal justice. Even though these topics can be heavy, we always learn how each of us can play our parts despite our ages. We have also talked about ways that we, as people, escalate and de-escalate situations, which is an important skill in the real world. 

YouthBridge has three really outstanding committees that are both significant and relevant to today’s world. I joined YouthBridge because I am interested in becoming a lawyer when I am older, but specifically one that deals with criminology, which is why I applied for the Criminal Justice Reform committee. My favorite memory from the committee thus far is the game that we played in person to learn about the school to prison pipeline. This activity really brought into perspective how education can lead to or influence incarceration, and other outcomes. It was appalling to see how just one bad choice can lead to an unjust lifestyle. 

In the end, I wanted to learn how to be an active leader in my community and YouthBridge is definitely getting me there. We build new friendships and connections and will continue to have them for the next two years. Overall, this has been a positive experience.

---

A CALL TO SOCIAL ACTION

By Noah Baruch

A screenshot of what we’ve highlighted during the Food Justice Committee

One of the highlights of my junior year of high school thus far has been being part of YouthBridge-NY. The organization has allowed me the opportunity to connect and communicate with new faces and break down barriers in a judgment free arena of acceptance. Being amongst a group of young leaders in a diverse environment has given me the chance to explore and delve into community issues that I had not yet had the opportunity to fully understand. One such issue is food insecurity. As part of the social action committee focused on food justice, I am learning about injustice in a way that empowers me to take a leadership role in both improving peer awareness as well as taking actionable steps in actual future prevention. Food security is a public health crisis across America. It is a largely neglected issue of great importance. There are so many families that lack access to adequate healthy food causing devastating effects leading to obesity, mental health problems, hunger,  and diseases like hypertension and diabetes.

In order to design appropriate interventions with successful outcomes for diverse populations, it is essential that people have an understanding of the problem. Food policy education is of utmost importance in fixing this problem. Hunger and food insecurity are pervasive throughout New York City impacting more than 1 million New Yorkers even before the COVID 19 pandemic which of course greatly exacerbated the already dire situation. Food insecurity and poor access to healthy food disproportionately impacts underserved communities of color.

As part of the Food Justice Committee, we were fortunate to hear from the founders of Foodstream Network. What started as a pandemic project resulted in a tool for hunger relief. These two innovators created a social networking platform to simplify the way nourishing food moves through the community. It is a way for those in need to connect and collaborate with local food services, community groups and public institutions. Foodstream has opportunities for community groups to access donations, funds and food supplies. Farms and gardens can find organizations looking to purchase fresh produce. Restaurants can give back by providing healthy meals to organizations on greater scales. Hearing from community leaders on projects like Foodstream is truly inspiring and allows me to understand that anyone can work hard and make a difference when problems and issues are properly examined and understood. I look forward to my continued education and call to social action as part of YouthBridge-NY.

---

TAKING THE STEPS TOWARDS ADVOCACY

By Stefan Inderbitzin

Advocacy 101 at Mercy College

On February 17th, we, the YouthBridge Fellows, met at Mercy College to listen and learn from the Citizens’ Committee for Children about advocacy. Based in New York, the CCC believes in empowering advocates through in depth research into market trends, community opinions, scientific data, and more; voter outreach and registration; communities organization and mobilization; and the creation of platforms that can allow all people to share their voice. 

The representatives from CCC started by asking what advocacy means. While being a seemingly simple question, we soon realized that there was much more to advocacy than first thought. Advocacy is both organizing hundreds of thousands to fight for civil rights and telling a friend how kind another friend is. The discussion led to a shared understanding that advocacy is the set of tools from which average citizens can affect change. That advocacy and organizing is the “people’s” response to lobbying. 

We then talked about how the CCC has been advocating for summer programs for New York City’s children as a tool to look into the steps necessary for change. The CCC, along with other organizations, compiled research into summer learning loss, along with talking to low income members of the New York community to hear how underfunded after-school  and summer programs affects students. Using social media and protests, the CCC has helped spread the word, and still seeks to do more. We then learned about Participatory Budgeting, which allows community members to directly vote on a project from a preset budget, allowing people to directly affect their communities.

Towards the end, we discussed how to find the people who retain power in various problems and how to work with and around them to create change. We ended with an activity in which we were given a problem and had to figure out a plan to solve it. This plan started with compiling information, by surveying community members, researching any relevant data, and anything else of importance. Then, using the information we gathered, we had to figure out who is affected by the issue and who maintains power to fix the issue. Then we had to work through solutions that involve all who will be affected by the changes.

For my group’s scenario, Jahric and I had to deal with mass amounts of trash spread around the city. It was quite interesting because there are so many potential causes and solutions. The increased waste could be caused by failure by the sanitation department, increased consumption by the community, or many other causes. Because of that, our process was unclear, but we worked through it. I was very impressed by how in-depth we got, and learning how accessible change can be.

The Citizens’ Committee for Children presented clear and detailed information on creating change, which can only serve to benefit us both during our time in YouthBridge and for the rest of our lives. To me, the most important takeaway was that because everyone’s perspective is important, everyone should have the right and duty to be an advocate. That it is important to create spaces in which all people can directly affect the world.