We Are What They Envisioned

WE ARE WHAT THEY ENVISIONED

EXPRESSIONS OF RESISTANCE, RESILIENCE, AND RE-IMAGINATION

Written by the 2016-2017 9th grade Ethnic Studies students at Roosevelt High School

This book was written by the 2016-2017 9th grade classes of Ethnic Studies at Roosevelt High School and printed in April 2018.

The views expressed in this book are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of 826LA. We support student publishing and are thrilled you picked up this book.

Las opiniones expresadas en este libro son las de los autores y no reflejan necesariamente las de 826LA. Apoyamos la publicación de jóvenes autores y estamos felices que haya recogido este libro.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

WWW.826LA.ORG

ECHO PARK 1714 W. Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026

MAR VISTA 12515 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066

EDITORS: ANGELICA BUTIU CORONADO AND MARISA URRUTIA GEDNEY

COVER ARTWORK BY: LEXX VALDEZ

BOOK DESIGNED BY: RACHEL MENDELSOHN

BOOK PRINTED BY: BOOKMOBILE

This project was made possible in part by support from the Vera R. Campbell Foundation

Roxana Dueñas, Eduardo López, and Jorge López are three groundbreaking teachers who created the Ethnic Studies course “Boyle Heights and Me” for ninth grade students at Roosevelt High School. Using the themes of resistance, resilience, and re-imagination, students analyze the root causes of oppression while taking a closer look at their own identities and their Boyle Heights community.

We Are What They Envisioned explores how students must navigate and carry the histories of their ancestors as they walk towards their own futures. Inspired by Octavia Butler, Tupac Shakur, Kendrick Lamar’s song DNA , and the concept of becoming their ancestors’ wildest dreams, this collection of student writing reveals reflections on the past of colonization, the present of their current family struggles and success, and the future of their own legacies for the next seven generations.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION—8

I Got Resistance, Resilience, and Re-imagination in my DNA, 8

Queridos Ancestros—Roxana Daylen Dueñas, 9

Dear Ancestors (Tatás)—Jorge Alberto López, 10

Dear Antepasados (Ancestors)—Eduardo López, 12

TO MY ANCESTORS—14

Untitled—Andrea M., 16

Am I Your Wildest Dream?— Samantha R.A., 18

Untitled—Michelle A., 20

Little Brown Girl—Karen P., 22

Beauty in the Struggle—Lizbeth C., 23

Questions That Can’t Be Answered—Alex R., 24

To My Ancestors—Faith L., 25

I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams—Julio B.C., 26

Untitled—Anonymous, 27

Untitled—Aaron A., 29

I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams—Nayeli I., 31

TO FAMILY—33

Dear Grandparents—Samantha C., 34

A Strong Independent Woman—Jasmin V. M., 35

Strength to Women—Stephanie C., 36

Is Change Really Good?—Cesar R., 37

I Am My Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams—Leslie A., 38

From Granddaughter To Grandma—Esmeralda A., 39

Ancestor—Diego T., 40

Dear Abuela—Aquamarina R.S., 41

Stories You Told Me—Daisy J., 43

Untitled—Deborah R., 44

Dear Grandmother—Lissette M., 45

Dear Mom—Rosa A., 46

My Mother’s Legacy—Alexa, 47

How Did You Do That?—Alfred, 48

Generation in My Eyes—Annette, 49

Dear Mommy—Anonymous, 51

Dear Edgar, Jesus, and Janet—Anonymous, 52

Face To Face—Carlos M., 54

Do We Have More in Common Than We are Different?—Destiny V., 55

No More Struggles—Emiliano M., 57

Dear Grandpa Adolfo—Jeffrey D., 58

Dear Grandma—Anonymous, 59

TO MYSELF—60

Dear Future Self—Maria G., 61

Dear Future Me—Amanda Z., 62

You Can’t Spell “sCHOLAr” Without “Chola”—Guadalupe B., 64

Stronger Than Ever—Brooke, 66

Dear Future Self—Kelsey H., 68

Dear Peter Martinez (Present)—Peter M., 69

My Story—Ronald A., 70

Dear Future Michelle—Michelle J., 71

Dear Future Self—Alfredo S., 72

Look Back On This—Amy O., 74

Dear Me—Emily R., 76

Dear Present Self—Timothy R., 77

The Future is Hopefully Good—Rafael B., 78

Dear Future Self—Jason O., 80

TO OTHERS—81

The “Perfect” Person—Alejandra C., 82

Dear Anxiety—Brianna, 83

Dear Self Love—Hoana G., 84 “Make America Great Again”—Ana R., 85

Dear Time—Anthony R., 88

Be Brave. Take Risks. For Love—Lea, 89

Let Go—Leslie M., 90

Thoughts for the Brain—Lizbeth, 92

To The Things Holding Me Down—Luis F.N., 94

New Generation—Nailea G., 95

What Nobody Understands—Natalie M., 97

Rough Childhood, Brighter Future—Neomi F., 99

EXPRESSIONS—100

Life Without My Parents—Kimberly G., 101

Mi Color Hermoso—Amy A., 103

Carved In My Skin—Anonymous, 104

My Inspiration—Victoria S., 105

Is the Grass Greener on the Other Side?—Itzel A. S., 107

BH and Me—Kevin G., 109

Alas, Ozomatli—Lupkina M., 111

Grandma—Juliana R., 112

My Dream—Andres N., 113

We Are Society—Jada S., 114

No War?—Luis R., 116

My DNA—Adriana E., 117

Someone Like Me—Desiree G., 119

It Was All A Dream!!—Francisco Z., 121

ABOUT 826LA—123

I GOT RESISTANCE, RESILIENCE, AND RE-IMAGINATION IN MY DNA

Queridos Ancestros,

“This is the oppressor’s language, yet I need it to talk to you.” I have to borrow these words from Adrienne Rich, by way of bell hooks, to best express how complicated our relationship is. I hope you can hear this message nonetheless. I am ashamed to admit that I do not know as much I would like to know about you. At the present moment, I can only speculate and imagine what your life was like. I do not know how you struggled, how you resisted or what you imagined your future generations’ life might be like. What I do know is that whatever you dreamt and decided upon, led up to me. I am the manifestation and amalgamation of all of my unknown ancestor’s imaginations and actions. Maybe you were colonized; maybe you were the colonizers—maybe you are combination of both; maybe you moved and migrated and failed and succeeded; maybe you were afraid or outspoken; maybe you led rebellions and uprisings; maybe you lived a quiet and peaceful life. I really do not know. But I do know that whatever you did or did not do—whatever you prayed for, resulted in me sitting in my very own classroom, teaching and learning about ethnic studies with youth who look and sound like me.

With them, we read about what our ancestors lives may have been like. We grieve and question why we do not know enough about those who came before us; why our histories are not in the textbooks; why we cannot point to maps and trace our families’ lineages. We also write. We write letters, and stories, and poems about what makes us laugh, cry, resist, and imagine new ways of being in the future. We write about newly learned and jig-sawed together histories. We write about our communities and our hopes and aspirations. One day, there will be so many pictures and poems and maps and videos about everything about us, that those who come after us, will not have to guess who their ancestors were. Our stories will be there for them to read—in a language we both understand. They will learn from us, like we wish we could have learned from you. Maybe I do not know your story, ancestors, but I carry enough of your energy in my DNA. And we are here. And maybe that is all that matters. Gracias.

With love and gratitude,

ROXANA DAYLEN DUEÑAS

Dear Ancestors (Tatás),

Tsitsiki urapiti xánchkare sési jáxika ka xánkari p ’untsumikaria / Flor de canela suspiro suspiro porque me acuerdo de ti / Cinnamon flower sigh I sigh because I remember you

I wish I could write to you in the language of our indigenous abuelos, the language that is rooted in this continent for thousands of years. It pains me to know that our family can no longer speak our ancestral language, and faded into Spanish and English words in the last two generations. I still remember the song that you, grandmother Elena, would often sing to us as children, Flor de Canela, the song was both in Spanish and P’urhépecha, the indigenous language of the Michoacán region in Mexico. The words of the song were also some of the last phrases that you, grandmother held of your ancestral language. Before you passed, I would sit with you and ask you to teach me words and phrases of P’urhépecha, you would often harmonize in your elderly tone the words of Flor de Canela.

Ancestors, as I write this letter, to the scent of burning sage, and a flickering candlelight beside me, I think back to my memories of the words grandmother would sing, “suspiro porque me acuerdo de ti” (I sigh because I remember you). When I remember the grandparents I met, the ones I learned about, and my most distant ancestors that are unknown to my living family members, I believe grandmother Elena was teaching me through the song and oral tradition the beauty of remembrance. El suspiro (the sigh) that comes from memory is one that digs deep into our ancestral roots; it is remembering with our hearts. I believe grandmother was passing on this teaching to me, from ancestor to ancestor, from generation to generation— the teaching of remembrance, of looking back to the beauty of our people and our ways, to give us strength and resilience against the hate and oppression of the present.

I thank you grandmother, and tatás (ancestors) for your prayers and teachings, for there was a purpose in my life, and it has been to learn our history, our past, our knowledge and teach it to your descendants, the young people that sit in my ethnic studies classes. The joy you lived, the suffering you experienced and the multitude of emotions across time has shaped my DNA.

You have given me the tools, and the heart to resist, and a classroom community of young scholars, the future, who everyday collectively reimagine a world where our people will continue to blossom like the flor de canela tree.

With gratitude and hope, JORGE

ALBERTO LÓPEZ

Dear Antepasados (Ancestors),

I have often heard people say, “we stand on the shoulders of our ancestors,” and I truly believe this. This morning as I washed my face and looked at myself in the bathroom mirror, the reflection staring back at me was different than before. Today, it was a mosaic consisting of thousands of colored pieces coming together to resemble my face. I was instantly reminded of the jade burial masks Mayan rulers placed on their faces before entombment. One reason why jade was so highly valued was because of its strength that allows it to remain unchanged over time. I began to see each piece on my face like the jade mask where each piece now represented the individual lives of you, my antepasados, shining with your unbreakable and eternal presence within me.

Although, I may not know a lot about you, when thinking of my own identity, I think of those of us who have sought out knowledge about our ancestors. This journey for people of color is often times limited because for so long we have been denied our history by those in positions of power. Nonetheless, in my own experience, every time I gain a new insight into my genealogy or about my connection to my ancestral land of México, I see the pieces of my facial mosaic glow brighter than before—I stand prouder and taller than before. If this is something I experience as an adult I can only imagine how powerful this can be for youth learning about their own antepasados.

I would like to invite you to read the letters found in this book that my colleagues and youth have dedicated to their own ancestors. When thinking of future generations, we need to reconsider the term antepasados, which implies the past. Instead we should use siempre presente meaning ever or always present. And so, with these parting words, I would like you to know we are making a collective effort in our classrooms to remind those around us that we are always standing on the shoulders of our siempre presente ancestors.

Con mucho amor y paz. Tu progenio,

EDUARDO LÓPEZ

TO MY ANCESTORS

To my Ancestors,

I think of you as I hold a pen in my hand and bleed the ink onto this paper I think of you as I’m taught by my White, Japanese, and Mexican teachers

I see you in the roots of where I stand

Seeing over those under me, but looking up to those above me

I feel your strength and courage inside of me, pushing me to fulfill my aspirations

I think of your struggle

The migration, depression, starvation, poverty, discrimination I think of how I’m blessed to be here, but I’m even prouder to say I come from indigenous ancestors

Having clothes to warm me when it’s cold, having a roof over my head, those are things I am forever grateful to you for

The fact that I am able to sit in a class and be taught about how you all got here

To be able to speak Spanish without having the fear of being hit with a paddle

To be able to put my fist up in the air in a manner of expression

To be able to say, “I will fulfill my dreams” I am here and that’s what truly matters

The persistence and ambition taught to those before me are what I have internalized

The positive attributions to our culture are what we embrace and try to teach other so we are not seen as what others try to paint us as We choose to empower ourselves day by day

I remember the agony I felt a few weeks ago, as if the world was falling down on me

I kept telling myself so many things so many times, I began to believe those lies

But I don’t want to trick myself into believing it

I once heard someone say, “Happiness is not a destination, it’s a mood.”

I have always lived by the saying, “I’ll be happy one day”

But I realized, something that tore me down cannot define who I become I realize that agony and sadness are inevitable I can’t stop my heart and mind from feeling any certain way But I can stop myself from being engulfed in pity

I can grow from my past and become someone better, someone stronger I remember writing for the first time in the ninth grade, about finding my way back to liberty and with your might, I see that light at the end of the tunnel

You taught me that opportunity will never leave

Redemption, growth, love and care will be found somehow, someway, if you let change come to you

And I’m going to take everything one step at a time to be a better version of me

Because I cannot continue drowning myself in “what ifs”

As former president Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow, will be our doubts of today.”

This is who I have become Inevitably we’re still oppressed but it’s up to us, what we do If we bring change to the world or if we sit back and watch others tear it down

I hear my ama tell me on a daily basis to keep my grades up for the chance at a better future

I think of how you made all these sacrificios so I can be where I stand today Therefore, I will not allow myself to take two steps back I will take a leap forward for all of us and make a greater change within and around the world

I have a point to prove

The same point James Meredith proved by wearing a “never” pin backwards to mimic his oppressors at his college graduation

The point that anything is possible if you believe in yourself

Ultimately it’s all up to you, if you build yourself up or let others tear you down

And that is what you, my ancestors have broadly inspired me with The idea that if anyone else can do it, so can I Just because something is hard doesn’t mean it is impossible

With your ambition, creativity, intelligence and our beautiful heritage in my DNA

I am proud to say I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams

ANDREA M.

AM I YOUR WILDEST DREAM?

To My Dearest Ancestors,

Because of you I have power, strength, and resilience burning in my veins, passing through every ounce of my body. But I’m left with one question for you:

Am I Your Wildest Dream?

Did you ever dream this is how the world would turn out? Turned over by newly found institutions built against us? Would you have dreamt that we would find a way to push past the darkness and come out from the other side with bright light shining in our path? We did because of you.

Am I Your Wildest Dream?

Is my ambition and need to succeed everything you hoped it would be?

Am I Your Wildest Dream?

Did you ever look at all the negativity brought throughout time and think that through it all, a brown skinned, puffy haired daughter would bloom through all the adversity? Who chose not only to look past it, but use it as a fuel to propel her into better days. Harnessing all the positivity and light around her, her prayers finally coming to light as she embraces the dreams and aspirations she’s developed because of the mindset you’ve helped instill in her.

Am I Your Wildest Dream?

Because you are mine.

Hearing your sons and daughters, my grandmothers and grandfathers, reminiscing about all that we’ve endured. The sacrifices and pain was all cast aside because the day you dreamt of has arrived; all your blood, sweat, and tears have lead to a better life.

You sent your daughters, my great grandmother and her sisters, from Mexico to the US at a young age. You told them it would all be fine because you were sending them to a place you truly believed was divine. When they arrived the only mindset they had was an everlasting drive to strive and a constant need to succeed. It’s you that I thank for that.

I hope I’m your wildest dream.

You never would’ve imagined that despite all the pain and struggle, we’d come out on the other side. I say we because without you there is no me. And with me I hope I’ve become everything you wished I could be. Because of you I know we’re going to succeed.

In the end I know I Am Your Wildest Dream.

As crazy as it seems.

So thank you for being everything you can be.

In my heart, through my veins, it’s going to forever be you and me.

With the deepest love, SAMANTHA R.A.

Dear Indigenous Ancestors,

Time has passed since you’ve walked this earth; no longer filled with beauty or culture. Your mark that once was everywhere is being covered by the new. Your once familiar language is lost. We are such a big difference and comparing each other will prove it. Our clothes, accessories, even maybe our skin color will be different but we still have a connection. Our music, our culture- even though it’s trying to be erased- will always be there.

Preguntas: Why is there such a thing called difference? Will I ever be able to leave a legacy, one that won’t be swept under the rug like trash? Why isn’t my generation closer to nature or religion? I want to learn what you’ve learned and be under the same sky as equally respected individuals. As for nature, it is no longer valued. People are being distracted by the next big trend or the newest iPhone. How I would like to sit in a peaceful garden, relaxing and taking in the sweet, fresh air, not caring about my worries.

I want to have adventures and hope for the future. I’m stuck on the same old question, “What do you want to be when you’re out of high school?” I really don’t know. People have my future planned out for me so why even bother asking that stupid question? They tell me what to do, how to speak, dress and even act. I have no control, no voice, no support. Did your parents always support you and help guide you? Did they care enough to encourage you to pursue something that made you happy? Have you ever felt like you were drowning? Do you ever hate yourself? I deal with depression and self hate, yet family, friends, and teachers expect me to be fine. They expect me to pull myself up on my two broken, weak arms, off the ground.

Why couldn’t you have been a little bit stronger? Why couldn’t you have been more resistant? You were too kind and open hearted. You were too easy to trick which saddens me to know there is such an evil that takes advantage of others’ kindness. I wish I could go back and warn you of the dangers but sadly I can’t. I can’t fix what has already happened. I would like to be you and see everything you once did; to face a day, not knowing what challenges awaited me; to taste and see what you have experienced.

I wish future generations will know what we were like. I do not want them to

let themselves be forgotten. I want them to keep our legacy going, never quiver in the face of challenge, and bring new culture into this lively era. To leave a mark that will never be erased and create a better life for everyone. Yes, we will all face hardships on this horrid earth but once the fight is over the sun will shine once again. It’s really tough to keep going but my DNA is filled with determination and strength which leads me forward. We will unite and grow. I will work hard to make that future happen. We need to stop hiding and burst our culture into the air! Bring the color and love back! We shall dance and talk in ease, no longer ashamed of who we are. We shall shine brighter together. We shall love our DNA.

Love, MICHELLE A.

LITTLE BROWN GIRL

Dear Ancestors,

I want to tell you that life here, on your land has gotten easier but sadly, it has not. It’s sad to say, but all those years you spent fighting for the equality of your people and land only made a small dent in the White man’s world. I hope one day Earth will come into realization with man and bring a sense of love and caring among its people.

Let me inform you that to be a brown girl in today’s modern world means you are stereotyped, judged, and looked down upon. This world we live in pushes and kicks us down to our knees, wanting us to live in fear of the white race. I honor your bravery and courage to stand up and fight because nowadays many beautiful voices are locked away and hidden between their own lips.

Oh dear ancestors, please show us what it means to be impactful; show us our true strengths and fill our minds with hope! Being a brown girl doesn’t get easier as the years go on. I fear of not being good enough; I fear to fall into the stereotypes of the white race and not make an impact on this world before my time has vanished. I can’t deny, I have seen myself in the hands of weakness and fear. I’ve felt Pain’s hands choking me, leaving me with no air to breathe. I wake up everyday hoping it gets better, that all will be right in the world and all evil will vanish. I am just a brown girl trying to get through the oppression, get through the hate, and get through the lies told to my face. I hope someday this “little brown girl” can make an impact and help the world be a little less cruel.

Your descendent,

KAREN P.

BEAUTY IN THE STRUGGLE

Dear Indigenous Ancestor,

How did you do it? How did you manage to remain resilient through the genocide and deprivation of your own identity? Where did all your patience, hope, and generosity arise from? Seven generations later and we are in deep need of your values because things have not quite improved yet.

We continue to live in an oppressive, racist, sexist society that dehumanizes minorities. White supremacy continues to be visible in our world, in fact it’s only getting worse. Our own kind is putting each other down as they support our so-called “president” who labeled us as rapists and criminals, saying a wall should be built to keep us out. Keep us out of opportunities, keep us out of a safe haven, keep us out of the “American Dream.” Rather than fighting together and attacking the bigger issue, we are causing chaos amongst ourselves, and all for what? We come from the same roots, we face the same struggles. I wish I could tell you our people have become privileged, but that would be a lie. We still live in areas of poverty, growing up in harsh realities where girls get cat-called daily and feel paranoid as they walk alone when the day turns dark. It’s common to see young men join gangs and violence rather than to head off to college. Financial instability and dysfunctional families have become the norm. We are living in a place where it’s polluted, in cities where homelessness is at an all-time high.

The youth is trying to make it out, but it’s tough. We are trying to become educated and better ourselves but that becomes hard when our resources are limited in schools where there’s constant displacement of teachers, little college outreach programs, and food that hardly looks bearable. But we are fighting, fighting to prove all those who doubt us. With pride and determination in our DNA we strive to break away from the stereotypes society has set upon us and become something so much greater. We need to hold on tight to our strength within and follow in your footsteps. We need inspiration from your legacy to remain hopeful that one day we can live at peace. Until that day comes, we will continue to fight, not only for ourselves but for you as well. Against all odds we will turn our struggle into something beautiful.

This is my promise to you.

LIZBETH C.

QUESTIONS THAT CAN’T BE ANSWERED

Dear Indigenous Ancestors,

I have so many questions to ask that can’t be answered. My life isn’t so good at the moment but thank God I’m not dead. What was your life like when you were fifteen? Was it worse or better than mine? I wish you could answer these questions but not everyone gets what they wish for. I learned that the hard way. I wish someone would have told me but no one did so I had to get used to it.

Did you do something good with your life? I want to do something good with mine. I’m going to be somebody instead of being nothing! I want to become a professional baseball player and make a lot of money so I can buy myself a Rolls Royce. I also want to give back to the community.

Did you have a lot of opportunities? I had some but I took the risk to not take them, because what’s life without risks? Were you given a lot of permission? I’m allowed to go out about twice a week, although I want to go out everyday. I want all these questions to be answered, maybe your responses could help me out.

Your descendant, ALEX E.

To My Ancestors who are a Fundamental Part of me and my Heart:

Even though I don’t know you or can’t see you, I see you in my mother

I know she called you Dad and your wife, Mom

I know how much you cared and loved her

I know you always tried to make her a better person

I know l can’t hear your voice or come to you when I need someone to talk to But I know I hear you in my tio’s voice when he talks about you

He says you were in World War II and you were like a real life Superman

I want to know why you wanted to be a better person and the actions you took that made you Superman

All of this is important because I want to know what pushed you to become a good person

I don’t want to be like my mom and dad

I don’t want to be a failure

What pushes me to be a better person is everything I have gone through and not wanting that for my kids

My family is in and out of jail

I am in the foster system

My family only cares about money and their homies

My mother was addicted to the drugs my father smuggled from Mexico I am from all of this craziness but I am and always will be who I say I am I am a relative of the real life Superman I am a kind person

You are my ancestor and I am your descendant I used to think I was not like my family and I was proud of that But now I want to be like someone in my family

I want to be like you

I want my kids to see me as a hero too

I want future generations to know not everyone in our family was a failure

And when they think of how we’re not I would like them to think of you and I

FAITH L.

I AM MY ANCESTORS’ WILDEST DREAMS

Dear Indigenous Ancestors,

My name is Julio Bernal from Los Angeles. I am from your same roots, just from a different country. Although I’m living in a generation with different languages, land, and culture we still share the same blood. I know you were invaded by America and Spain, therefore you lost some of your original culture. I wonder if the lifestyles you had were difficult or easy for you, before getting colonized and having all your valuable belongings taken away—which I imagine, is an unforgivable tragedy.

I wonder how different the rules were? If there were curfews for young ones because I have a curfew which I dislike. There are things I hope I’m allowed to watch on T.V. like sports. I know there was a sport from Mexico similar to soccer but without a goalkeeper. It was more challenging with a hoop placed on the top of a wall. You could not kick it or throw it with your hands or legs, you had to use your hips. I think that sport was awesome!

Although you were invaded, the effect of it was favorable for me. Now I am receiving an education and preparing for my future. My family is having a better life here, earning better money.

Sincerely,

JULIO B.C.

Dear Ancestors,

Because of you I have strength and negativity in my DNA along with many other characteristics. A time I showed strength was when my family and I were having trouble finding a place to live because the rent was raised at our current home. Before this my aunt, her boyfriend, and my cousin were living with my parents, siblings, and I. They decided to move out so the expenses were no longer divided. Unfortunately my dad didn’t have a great job so we were having problems paying the rent.

One Friday night, we were out as a family, like usual. Suddenly my mom received a call from my older brother, asking if she had gone through our room and threw stuff out. We rushed home to find our apartment had been broken into. The building’s security guard was nowhere to be found so we waited for the police to arrive.

The day after the incident my dad went to the apartment office to report the incident and complain about the lack of security. He showed the pictures we had taken of all the damages but they decided they weren’t going to do anything so we took this to the court to be settled.

May 25, 2016, at 8:30am was our court date. I remember having to wake up early but my little sister and I had to go to school. I was too worried to focus so my mom let me come along. Being the first ones there, it was really quiet. I was really scared because I didn’t know what was going to happen. Finally more people began trickling into the hallway. We then went inside and waited for the judge and the lawyers. In a separate room we met with the lawyer, an interpreter, and the apartment owner. After discussing the situation we were given one month to find a new place to live or else we would get evicted. If in that month we didn’t move out, the sheriff would take us out of our home and anything left inside would officially become the apartment’s property.

We started packing everything and looking for a place to live. If we didn’t find anything we would have to move as far as Pomona or Whittier. At this point I was really scared and nervous, time was running out fast. My parents decided to rent a U-Haul truck and we spent all day loading everything.That

day my neighbors had invited me to watch the L.A. Galaxy game. I was allowed to go but I was really worried. I called my mom around 10pm and she was looking for a hotel for us to stay in. At that moment my heart dropped. When my neighbors dropped me off at the hotel, I didn’t want my mom and dad to know I was worried, nervous, and scared so I just talked to them about the game. We were in the hotel for two days. We had to wake up early and leave so we would go to the park all day then go back to rent the hotel again for the night. We went to look for houses again and we saw a sign that said FOR RENT. I got the number to call and we got the place! It’s where I’m currently living.

This has been one of our biggest struggles because I didn’t know what would happen, I didn’t understand what was going on. I learned how to get through this because no matter what, my whole family stuck together and I’ll admit, it was really hard for me but I never showed my family how I was feeling. I told them not to worry and in the end we overcame that. This is the reason why I say I have negativity and positivity in my DNA. At some point I really did think we weren’t going to find a place because we didn’t have much money. I told my mom we should move to Iowa with my uncle but I started thinking things through and reassured her we can overcome this together. We can find a place and everything will be alright. Overall what was considered “my struggles” are now my strengths.

Dear Ancestor,

My name is Aaron and I have questions about the past. In the past 500 years many things have changed. I know the struggle that you have endured in the past. Many things are different today we defeated the ones tried to conquer us. The thing that has not changed in our society are the four I’s of oppression.

One of the oppressions that existed in the past and still impacts us today is institutional oppression. The way I see institutional oppression is through discrimination on people of color. One example that I see is police brutality on people of color. This creates fear, and anxieties and this causes you to be scared of the things around you.

Before colonization did your society suffer any of the oppressions that I have seen? I know your civilization was in peace before the Spanish arrived but were there any ways you could have stopped the Spanish from invading your lands?

After your lands were conquered did you and your people still endure pain or struggles? How did you face oppression did you handle it or just left it as it is?

My hopes for the future generations to come is not to suffer the same oppression that we suffer. The change that I would like to see in myself is the ability to fight off the oppressions that impacts not only my life but others too. I would want my people to be resilient for the future as well. I know that it was hard for your people to fight for your land but you still fought off the oppression that was brought to your lands

My more recent ancestors like my grandma and grandpa suffered racism. It brought pain and they did not feel comfortable no more where they were living. The thing that I want you to know about me is my struggle with adultism. For example my mother thinks just because I am young that I’m not smart. Young people are equally smart as adults just people don’t see that in our young teenage life.

The things that I wish that could have been different for my grandpa and grandma is the racism in their life. I wish they would have lived in peace in that time instead of suffering. Thank you ancestors for reading my letter your resilience in the past will always be remembered.

Sincerely,

AARON A.

I AM MY ANCESTORS’ WILDEST DREAMS

Dear Ancestors,

Gracias. Thank you for resisting all of the struggles you faced throughout your lives. You managed to push through oppression, destitution and colonization. These personal stories that have traveled through time to reach me have helped me flourish into who I am today. Thank you for raising nine childrenincluding my mother- gracefully, regardless of the various sacrifices you had to make in order to help raise a powerful future generation.

I inherited resistance and the desire to pursue a better life, not just for myself but for my future generation. I aspire to overcome the social and economic barrier that has isolated us. Unlike those days I am lucky enough to have access to educational opportunities that will impact future generations in our family. In those days education was not a choice but rather a luxury. Your perseverance helped raise a generation of dedicated and passionate grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Although things have improved I am still faced with some struggles and negative aspects within myself such as anxiety, selfishness, and stubbornness. I feel as if the anxiety comes from even my own family. My parents were raised in a household that could not afford to send their multiple children to school, so they forced their own dreams onto mine. I have to admit, I am selfish. Selfish to pursue my dream career as a Psychologist instead of a doctor or registered nurse like my parents want me to be. One of my unique traits is being stubborn, especially when it comes to accomplishing what I set my mind to. I am so stubborn, I won’t let anyone’s opinion penetrate this imaginary bubble I surround myself in. The same barrier that had obstructed you from going to school or living the “American Dream,” may now prevent me from going to college. This is all due to the continuing oppression of minorities and economic struggles faced in low income communities.

I want to go to UC Santa Barbara and develop into the person I aspire to become, a psychologist. I want to study criminology, and child development. I want to study how the person reacts to crime and the root causes of

criminal behavior. Of course, the root of behavior stems from child development and that is why I want to study both. The future is always caused by situations and decisions made in the past. That is why the decisions you made have rippled into effect and created the person I am today. I have resistance, desire, selfishness and stubbornness in my DNA that will overcome fears, emotional barriers, and social constructs.

Sincerely,

NAYELI I.

TO MY FAMILY

Dear Grandparents,

I know you’ve been through alot, you both have suffered and life has not been easy nor fair for the both of you. “¿Abuelita, cómo fue tu niñez?” I asked. She responded, “Let’s take a seat. I’ll tell you a little bit of it”.

Her life has not been easy but she managed to get through it. When she told me her mom had left her and her dad passed away, I wanted to cry for her. The only person she depended on was her tía and she will forever be thankful for saving her life. Her tía was the only person who really cared for her and loved her like a mother would. I hugged my grandma and told her she will never be alone anymore.

Un día le pregunté a mi abuelito, “¿cómo era una su niñez?” My grandpa’s childhood was similarly bad like my grandma’s. He had to go out at night to rob bags of corn knowing there would be snakes and other dangers. His mom left him with some tíos who would mistreat him. One day his uncles told him to steal again but he refused; he was tired of this mistreatment. That’s when his uncle got a cable and began hitting him in the back, ordering, “You. Will. Not. Disobey!” He managed to get a hold of his uncle’s arms and exclaimed, “No! Stop! I am leaving!” His uncle laughed at him and said, “Without me you will die.” As he was recalling this experience, I realized my grandfather was crying. That’s why my grandfather doesn’t like talking about these topics, it hurts him and the whole family.

Right now my grandfather is undergoing cancer and it is really difficult because he says he is ready to die. We all hope and pray he doesn’t. I know we don’t live forever but not yet… not him. The advice they both gave me was to never give up in life and not let anyone put me down. I will never forget when my grandparents told me, “Hay que luchar con todo y que nada y nadie te detenga lo contrario.”

Love,

Your Granddaughter, SAMANTHA C.

A STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN

Dear Abuelita Hermosa,

Where you come from, Jalisco, Mexico is very different from where I come from, the big city of LA I love how you’ve accepted this new way of life. I know you didn’t really like it in Mexico and your family needed help with money so you found a job here to support them. I always look back and wonder what would have happened if you didn’t cross the border at eighteen years old, if you didn’t meet my grandpa, if my mother was never born. I wouldn’t be here today. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have my beautiful mother and I wouldn’t be writing you this letter on this beautiful day. You have built a beautiful family that has been through so much and is still standing. How did you do it? You are independent, responsible, trustworthy, outgoing, loving, and eres alegre.

On July 4, 1975 a strong independent woman who I am proud to call my mother, was born. One day I asked what her childhood was like, she just looked down and cried. It broke my heart to see my mom crying. At that moment, different thoughts popped into my head that I wish I could have said, like, “You don’t deserve to feel like this. I wish I could have been there to hold you. I’m sorry for not being able to be there for you through the pain.” Mira, yo no sé la verdad behind the lies you or my mother have given me and everyone else. You are both scared to tell the truth but it’s okay to have imperfections, everyone does.

I didn’t want to be exactly like my mom, gritona y con attitude but it turns out I am just like her and I’m proud of it. How did you do it abuelita? You started from nothing and now you’re an inspiration to me. Eres como una rosa del concreto. You have made me the third generation and I will be strong and beautiful like you. You have a legacy in my heart and I have the best privilege of having a woman like you as my grandma.

Tu favorita, JASMIN V. M.

STRENGTH TO WOMEN

To the Women in my Family Who are my Strength,

I am a product of constant oppression through expressions like, “You’re going to get pregnant.” and “You hit like a girl.” Those sexist jokes don’t faze me. Everything you’ve gone through, I’m going through. What once was yours unfortunately is now mine but just like you, I’m kicking butt! Through you, I’ve learned to be stubborn and do whatever I want which is the opposite of what society teaches women. You’ve also taught me to be loving and caring. Just like you once were, I am destroying all those “you can’t, what if’s” and other assumptions by being a female getting an education and simply refusing to please men because that seems to be my “only purpose in life.” Just how your voice has been attempted to be silenced, mine is too but I won’t let them. I scream and get louder because I will not be silenced. We’ve come way too far to give up now. As the years go by, we continue to get stronger and smarter. You’ve implanted resilience in me and as long as there is hope, fear does not exist. We are fearless, Hispanic women, regardless of what others say. We have survived through a lot and the end is far from near.

We are the definition of resistance, fearless, and beautiful.

With gratitude, STEPHANIE C.

IS CHANGE REALLY GOOD?

Dear Great Grandparents,

When I get hungry I walk to the store and buy Hot Cheetos and Sprite. When you get hungry you either had to kill a chicken or wait for your crops to grow. If I want to go somewhere I could drive or take the Metro. You had to walk through steep, dirt roads and if it was really far, you had to ride a horse there. Our lives are so different, it’s almost unfair to compare them. I still don’t know everything about my roots or exactly how you lived but then again, did you ever think your grandchildren were going to be living in LA, writing you a letter you will probably never read? Did you ever face any problems like racism or poverty? Did you ever experience privilege? Don’t worry if you faced racism because over here in America, it’s pretty bad. Living as a fifteen year old teen in L.A is pretty good so far. It’s definitely different from how you faced many issues. For example, if someone stole something from me I call the cops or report it. I’m not even sure if you were able to report it. If something bad happens and I get lost, I could use my phone to call for help. If you ever got lost you had to find your way get back or you’ll never be seen again.

I also wonder if you played any sports because almost everyone in our family loves to. I love to play basketball because it’s fast paced and it’s also a great way to stay fit. Our family plays all types of sports and does all kind of activities to stay fit. Did you celebrate birthdays? What type of music did you listen to? I have so many questions and there is no way I’ll get an answer. We probably face bigger problems more often than before. Did you ever have to worry about being harassed by the people who were supposed to “serve and protect you”? There are so many things wrong in the world, it’s pretty scary. Sixteen percent of people who voted in the presidential election actually voted for Trump. We have a racist president who is leading our country to be worse than ever, and now the world is full of hatred. I wish the world would change the way everyone treats each other and the world becomes a better place for my children and their children.

CESAR R.

Dear Mom,

I am your daughter, Leslie. As a fifteen year-old teenage girl, I have had a hard life but it also comes with its advantages. I have learned to be independent and strong. My life is very different from yours, you were born in the late 70’s and I was born in the early 2000’s. We are from two different generations.

Your generation consists of marriage and family. As a child, you were taught to cook and clean in order to satisfy your future husband’s needs. You were destined to be a stay-at-home mom while your husband was supposed to provide for you and your family.

My generation consists of social media and technology. I have been taught more by society than by you. Society has taught me to flaunt my successes on social media. Technology has simplified what used to be difficult tasks. Life is getting easier everyday with advanced machines and new techniques. If I don’t succeed in my generation I am considered a disappointment.

You crossed the border to have a better chance at life and I appreciate that. If it wasn’t for you I would have been born in Mexico with less opportunities for a brighter future. Although it is very hard to live during this time with Trump being president, I will get through it. The strength, independence, and resilience you have passed down to me will be used to its fullest potential.

Your

Daughter, LESLIE A.

FROM GRANDDAUGHTER TO GRANDMA

Dear Grandma,

I am a fourteen year-old girl living in Boyle Heights. I live with your son and my mother. Both my parents were born in Michoacan. My dad works in a hotel and my mom works at a chocolate factory. I like to play tennis and the violin. I had the privilege to meet you before you passed away. I remember visiting you in Mexico during the summer and sometimes winter.

As I got older I started seeing how the world is and the systems that exist. I started to see police brutality, racism, poverty, sexism, oppression, and others. I realized in our culture we are mostly the victims. Even though I didn’t really get to know you I have heard many stories from my dad about you.

Your granddaughter, ESMERALDA A.

Dear Grandpa,

I know you went through a lot growing up, you had a lot of ups and downs. You influence me because you are a really brave man and you’ve shown me that anything is possible. I am thankful for having you in my life, you helped me out a lot and gave me good advice. I am very thankful you played two important roles in my life; that of a dad and of a grandfather.

Without you I wouldn’t be the way I am now. You have always told me, “If you want something, work hard for it and you will get it.” I know you want me to succeed in life and become someone. I am going to work hard for that because I want to make you proud. I also want to succeed in life so I can be better than my brother and uncle. I know you want me to be better than both of them and become successful.

Sincerely, Your Youngest Grandson, DIEGO T.

Dear Abuela,

Soy tu nieta, la hija de tu nieto Eddie. Great grandmother, you cross my mind from time to time; I miss you very much. I wonder how things would be different if you were still here. You see abuela, no estoy bien. I mean, I am… but at the same time I’m not.

Mi vida no es perfecta, I faced a lot of challenges but I don’t think any of it affected me as much as my biological mom’s abuse. Not only was I bullied in school for the first twelve years of my life but I was also bullied at home. She always argued, yelled, and hit me. As bad as it was, it only got worse when my dad moved out when I was eleven. After this happened I started staying out late, doing things a kid my age shouldn’t have been doing. At twelve I fell into depression but nobody knew, I hid it so well… until they noticed my self harming. None of this stopped my mother’s actions; her abuse was no longer just physical but more mental and verbal. Threats, brainwash, screams, she tried to hit me a couple of times but I never let her. I eventually moved out after having about four interactions with the police because of her. I have overcome everything I went through. I found a mother figure I can rely on and most importantly, I brought myself to happiness. Abuela, it took a lot of strength, hope, and tears for me to get here but I did.

Ever since I was little I’ve wanted to be successful and I’ve constantly worked towards my success. Abuela, I do so much for my future. I’m kind to others so karma won’t negatively affect my future. I work hard in school because I know one day it will pay off. I help others by advising them when they come to me, loving them and being there for them no matter what because it’s what I love to do. Success is important to me because I do not want to go through the financial problems my parents did. I do not want my kids to feel how I felt when I wanted something but knew we couldn’t afford it. I will know I have succeeded when I can look into my future and see that nobody in my family will ever have to suffer again. I don’t ever want anyone to feel how I felt, what my parents felt and what my family felt.

Abuela, everyone tells me I’m just like you. They say I’m friendly, intelligent and loving just like you were. They may not know this but I also “mother” everyone like you did. But I have to ask, did you ever question if it was worth

it, loving and helping others all the time? Don’t get me wrong, I love doing it and would never dream of stopping. I just don’t think people realize that even though I give love to everyone, that doesn’t mean I don’t get attached. They don’t realize it hurts when they leave and never talk to me again. Did you ever experience the pain these actions bring? How did you get over it?

You were perfect abuela. Even though you died when I was three, I’m so happy you are a memory. I’ve been reminded so many times of who you are and what you did. Your daughter, my grandma Maria reminds me of how I would always walk around with you and hold your walker because I was afraid you would fall; I wanted to protect you. Everyone talks about how grateful they were to have you in their life. The best gift you ever gave was love and I wish you were still here to give it. I wish I can talk to you and ask for advice, visit you and help you cook or clean. I want to be able to see you at all the family gatherings. We all miss you and no matter what, I promise to make you proud, abuela.

Yours truly,

AQUAMARINA R.S.

STORIES YOU TOLD ME

Dear Abuelito,

I am your fifteen year-old granddaughter who lives in Boyle Heights. I am actually your oldest granddaughter. My parents are Maria, your oldest daughter and Martin, your son in law. My mom was born in Los Angeles and bakes homemade cakes. My dad was born in Jalisco and works at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

I remember the stories you would share about when you were younger, moving to the United States, and stories about grandma. What did you think when you first saw her? I remember you telling me she was so skinny and so pretty when you met her. Then you brought her to the United States and as soon as she tried the hamburgers, POOM! She got chubby!

When you first came to the United States you and grandma didn’t have any job or anywhere to live. Eventually you both found jobs, a home, and had a family. You said you moved a lot, you moved to Mexico and back to the U.S. when there was work.

You have told me so many nice stories about your past, don’t stop sharing them! The great memories are the ones we like to keep. I will always remember the parties we had in your backyard. You were and still are the fun and awesome grandpa anyone wishes to have.

Sincerely,

DAISY J.

Great grandmother, oh, how hard your life was!

Realising you could’ve had the whole world but you chose home. Even though it was burning hot, you would work in the kitchen Assuming your kids would have fun outside. From day to night you pushed yourself.

Great grandmother, oh, how much you cared for others! Really, great grandmother, how did you do it all? What I noticed is that I care for others as well. Never really thought we could connect like that. Did you ever want to explore the world? Maybe we connect in other ways. After all, I do have some of your DNA.

Just as you were hardworking, why didn’t you try to achieve your goals? Today is about risks and going for it. Am I learning to take risks and achieve my goals? Never doubt a family member because after all, it’s in our DNA. Always know that whatever we chose, we will still be connected to you.

DEBORAH R.

Dear Grandmother,

Even though you passed away eight years ago, I still remember how you liked to start my mornings with words of encouragement; “Never give up. Always keep your head up. Earn enough money so you won’t struggle like your parents.” When you passed away my mom reminded me of it all so I wouldn’t forget. As I grew older my mom told me you had left a letter with advice you wanted me to hear every year. When I was ten she told me not to like boys because I was too young, and to maintain good grades. When I was twelve she advised never to lie to my teachers or fight in school. Now that I’m fifteen she tells me not to fall for the wrong friends. “Only be friends with people that actually help you and don’t do drugs or alcohol. Don’t mess up in high school and don’t think of boyfriends right now.”

I know I might have made some mistakes but I know you’re not mad because it always happens to kids.

Thank you for everything, LISSETTE M.

Dear Mom,

I admire when you’re going through something bad. You’re still there for the family, you never let us down. I also admire the way you always help your brothers and sisters. The traits in our DNA balance each other out because your calmness and patience deals with my craziness. One trait that comes from your DNA is being helpful and kind to others.

I know these past few years haven’t been easy for you, with the way my dad left us and you having to worry about him staying in contact with me. When my dad would tell my brother and I negative things, you would always be there to tell him off. I know sometimes I behave badly and I don’t listen to you. You’re also very strict with my curfew because when you were younger you weren’t allowed to go out with your friends.I know you care and you always give me life lectures to do well in school because you don’t want me to go through the same struggles as you have. You really struggled and I have it easier.

Thank you Mom, for everything.

ROSA

A.

MY MOTHER’S LEGACY

Dear Mom,

I want you to know I think about you all the time and I want to thank you for giving me your attitude and the way you can laugh at anything. Like when it was Christmas and my uncle fell off the couch and spilled his beer, you laughed when other people would be upset.

I’m happy my growth from that experience has gotten stronger each time I let my feelings go. I wish one day I could carry myself the way you did and not be afraid to be as opinionated as you were. For example, if someone were to say they didn’t like what you were wearing, you wouldn’t care, you’d respond, “I don’t need your opinion.” I wish one day I could express my feelings about you being gone and not having to hide it from everybody without them having the privilege of pitying me. If I were to leave all the sadness behind I would have more “feelings” and be less stubborn and afraid. I’m happy you gave me limits and things to follow or else I’d be a mess and not have an idea of what to do with my life. You gave me everything I needed and you added more to my identity. That’s all I need in order to grow strong in the world I live in today. I love and miss you.

Sincerely, ALEXA

HOW DID YOU DO THAT?

Dear Jenny and Angie,

I want both of you to know you are the best. You have always supported me. Angie, you have always bugged me to run with you. Jenny you always bug me to do homework. You made me the person I am today. I am intelligent because you always find a way to get the job done. I have humor because of all the times we made jokes about random topics. I am hardworking because every time I look at you, you are both working hard. I have weirdness because of the things we do, like dancing and acting silly. My life can’t compare to yours, that’s a fact. Whenever you had a problem, you would always figure it out yourselves. If I have a problem, I could ask you two and it’s great! You two are my role models, I want to follow in your footsteps. I want to graduate high school and go to college. I’m very grateful to have you two as my sisters. I just hope I could be as great as you or even better.

Your Brother, ALFRED

GENERATION IN MY EYES

Hey Dad,

I know you’ve noticed the change in the world. When it comes to education, equality, social media, government, things aren’t the same as they were five years ago. I’m sitting in a room with twenty other students. We all have our own lives, we all come with a different story. In this generation we really don’t know what another person is going through because they’re scared of telling someone and having that person tell multiple people. To older people we are the “screw up generation.” They assume the worst from every millennial baby. In this generation we were forced, yes forced, to grow up earlier than we anticipated. Overall we are called multiple things but they don’t know what most of us go through or are all about.

I remember the day we sat down and had a conversation about when you were growing up. I remember you telling me all your stories as a teenager. “Relationships were longer, the world was calmer,” you said. You told me how hard it took for you to officially grow up because you weren’t in any rush and responsibilities were given later than they are now.

Social media plays a big role in this generation. I see a lot of girls my age putting ten pounds of makeup and posting half naked pictures just to get a couple 100 “likes.” People somehow try to escape it, but at the end of the day, social media is always there.

I know I didn’t mention it in the beginning, but love has changed throughout the years. “Running game” became the new thing. Cheaters are now everywhere you go. Relationships have gotten shorter and having a friend with benefits became popular. In this generation where people are afraid of commitment, I’m one of the few looking for love. I’ve seen many people get hurt over love; it’s understandable but things aren’t always easy nowadays. I’m just a fourteen year old girl who has had her heart broken, cheated on, lied to, and played but I’ve also learned from these experiences. These obstacles made me the strong, independent person I am today. I was taught that even without a person by my side I know I can still make it. I gained confidence and learned things I didn’t even know about myself. In this generation you need to learn to love yourself before you can love another.

My life isn’t perfect at all. There are days, weeks, sometimes even months where I would disappear and push everyone away. Now I look back at those days and realize I was running away from my problems. I let little things get to me and I didn’t look on the bright side. Depression, anxiety, pain, it’s always going to be there but so is excitement, happiness, and love. This generation isn’t one of the best but it’s one everyone can learn from. Kids and teenagers have grown and you can see the change within them. We are the next generation. We are tough, wise, and we know how to have a good time.

Sincerely,

ANNETTE,

A fourteen year old trying to live

Dear Mommy,

You didn’t have the opportunities you wanted to have. You didn’t get what you wanted but I do. I have all these options to learn and focus on my future so I am going to try my best to be successful and focus on my education. You always made me understand that if there is a chance for me to follow my dream, why not do it? You didn’t have a chance to work on the future you wanted. I wouldn’t want to change what you and I have in life and if that’s what it takes to keep things good between us, that’s what I am going to do. In my DNA there is always going to be happiness, respect, and intelligence. You always tried to do the best in life, why can’t I? Our lives are not the same because you’ve done so many good things, you help take care of many people; you had to work day and night to survive, have food on the table, and a place to live for you and your children. One thing we will always have in common is the kindness for the people we truly love. What I wish was the same between us is how you always seem to be strong even when something is really wrong.

I want to release all the bad memories of my past, every single thing that has happened in my life that I never want to discuss. I would have more joy in life and put more effort into myself and my work. To be honest, I don’t think anyone can help me do this but myself. I always wanted to become a fashionista and work in Miami but the thought of leaving home and not being with my mom is too hard. I know she is not always going to be around but I am always going to be right next to her through good and bad.

Dear Edgar, Jesus, and Janet,

I’m writing this letter to thank all three of you for all the good and bad influences you’ve had on me. I also so want to thank you for being the family’s lab rats, showing resilience even though you made mistakes. First of all, I want to thank my older brother, Edgar for keeping the family legacy going. We all get a little stubborn sometimes but at the end of the day, you make our family proud. One way you make us proud is by putting your graffiti on the map. I feel privileged because I know no matter what the situation is, you find a way to empty out your feelings. You empty out your feelings as easily as those 94 spray cans. Out of the time, effort, and struggles, a beautiful mural with vibrant colors is the product that represents and modernizes your experiences.

Jesus, I’ll start by thanking you for showing me all I know. I remember where we come from and that shows the genuine talent you were given. As a descendent of a Mexican family our primary rule was to always stand your ground. What would I know? I was nine and the only thing I knew was being pushed around by kids who were superior to me. The afternoon I arrived to the little crowded apartment, everything was about to change. I was there for one exact reason, to learn how to stand up for myself no matter the cost. I was staying for a couple days with my seventeen year old brother. My brother was my family’s first disappointment, Jesus was gang related to the bone. The hood was everything to him, he feared nothing and beat up anybody that dissed him. I guess my parents thought Jesus was the perfect mentor to show me the cruel reality of the world. Don’t get me wrong, he wasn’t here to show me the obstacles, he was here to show me how to overcome them and keep striving for better.

Janet, I’ll start by thanking you for bringing pride and success into our family. Who would’ve known a young Latina from an overpopulated, gang infested neighborhood would make it to a prestigious college- wow, Janet! When I said you put us on the map I mean it! I feel so proud to have a sister that attends college on the other side of the nation. I want to mainly thank you, Janet for giving me advice about academics. I know nothing about your situation during your four year journey but all I have to say is, you make the whole family, including myself, extremely proud. Thank you for breaking

barriers and opening doors, not just for me but other Latinos. Thank you for breaking the stereotype of Mexican, low-income students who won’t go further than a high school diploma. Finally, thank you for never forgetting your roots.

Finally, I want to thank you all for all the street knowledge you have passed on to me. For instance, Edgar and Jesus; you have taught me the real definition of brotherhood. If one of us eats, we all eat; if something were to happen, we’re all in it together. As a letter of thanks to all of my beloved siblings, I lastly want to thank you for molding me into the person I am today.

FACE TO FACE

Dear Hilario,

I want to ask you about your life. All I know is you were from Texas, you were a trucker, and you met my grandma in Mexico. People have told me I look exactly like you. I wish you had the chance to meet me and be in my life and be a part of our family. I wish you hadn’t been vulnerable to the social toxins in your life such as alcohol. You have influenced me to make good choices and take care of my family. I’ve learned from your mistakes and I know how important our family is to you. The impact I hope to leave is security for our family’s future generations. A personal value I believe is necessary is resilience because you have to be ready to face challenges in order to make a better future.

Unlike you, I have the opportunity to decide my future and explore choices such as my dream job or where to live. To decide my future, I have to take the right actions and live with the consequences. From you, I learned how to work hard for what I want because you had the drive to pursue what you wanted like having a family.

I want to be different from you by living a better life than you had. In my DNA I have patience and I will use that trait to take the time to make the right choices. My life is not that different from yours because I also struggle as you did. I want to be similar to you by having that mentality of going forward and thinking about what’s important even though all the choices have an affect.

I wish we could erase poverty from our lives and the struggles that come out of it. Poverty keeps us from having a better life, instead we’re depressed and stressed all the time. I wish for all the harmful things to leave our lives and we can be happy and peaceful. I wish you did that. All these toxins are what made us not be together today. I wish you are happy and you never forget about your contributions to this family. Hopefully I get to see you one day. Bye Grandpa.

Sincerely,

CARLOS M.

Dear Parents,

DO WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT?

My DNA is filled with sadness, anger, and fear. I don’t know who I inherited these traits from. I’m so different from the both of you, with my bluish/ greenish eyes compared to your simple but beautiful brown eyes; my whiter skin compared to your dark and tanned skin; and my curly hair that neither of you have. People get colorism ideas when they see us together. My body is beautiful and Mexican on the inside yet boring White on the outside. When I meet someone new and they find out I’m Mexican they commence with the White privilege and gringa comments. When I speak Spanish they say, “Wow! I didn’t know you speak Spanish.” which annoys me.

We have resilience living in our genes. Dad, a good example of this is how you are always willing to do extra work for different bosses. Mom, for years you would do whatever people advised in order to lose weight. From drinking special liquids to taking pills. Finally you found a place where you enjoyed working out and that has helped you become comfortable with your body. My resilience shows in maintaining my grades for my future.

Another thing we have in common are the problems we go through. When we went to the hospital because I had a really high fever and couldn’t walk for a week, we found out I have MRSA in my blood. I had to be hospitalized for a week so they can perform surgery. When the doctor told us I had MRSA we were confused because we didn’t know what that was. The surgeon informed us before surgery that the infection was so bad, if it hit my bone I could lose my leg.

We were so scared but Mom, you helped me forget about it. You made me laugh with our conversations and that strengthened our bond. We learned about the blood infection I would get after the surgery but we’ve managed to stay positive and hopeful. Our bond strengthened when my grandma passed away two weeks before I was diagnosed with MRSA.

I’m so different from the both of you because I’m privileged with the

opportunity to graduate high school and go to college. Both of you became parents at a young age and didn’t finish school. I want to thank you both for everything you’ve done for me and the support you have always given me. I appreciate you so much; I love you Mom and Dad.

Love, DESTINY V.

NO MORE STRUGGLES

Dear Mom,

You are the best and I love you. I know we don’t talk as much as we used to but when we do I hear a voice of a warrior. I have seen you overcome many struggles, you are resilient. Although you experienced difficulties coming to the USA with two young daughters, you didn’t give up. You always find ways to put food on the table and pay rent. I know you are tired of waking up at six a.m. everyday to work at a fast food chain. You are resilient, raising seven children whom you love and who love you back. I know it’s hard mom. I know how you feel and I want it to stop but I can’t do as much right now. When I see you sad I feel as if I gave up on you. It makes me feel hopeless and want to just give up on school and life. Then I remember our family comes from a long line of warriors, we don’t let anything get in our way. Your children learned this from you.

I remember being in the eighth grade when my brother told me you and my dad were going to get a divorce. I was playing video games and as soon as the words came out I stopped. I felt as though the world had stopped. I was scared and shocked and thought my brother was lying but his sad face showed he wasn’t. I busted into tears as my brother told me to pack my things. It was all happening too fast, I didn’t know what was going to happen. I didn’t know if I was going to move with you or my dad, or if we were all going to separate. Mom, you would do anything for us to have a better life. The reason I get good grades is because of you. I don’t do it to get rewards, I do it because I don’t want to see you struggling anymore. You gave me this life and now I want you to enjoy it. Thank you for always being here, not only for me but for the family.

To do this Mom, I’m going to have to work hard in school and learn how to take more responsibility. I’m going to continue getting good grades, go to college to get the dream job I want and become an NBA player. I’m going to help others become resilient like you and me. I want people to overcome their struggles and not worry so they could enjoy their life.

Sincerely,

Dear Grandpa Adolfo,

I want to thank you for everything you did for me, you helped me change so much. I remember not getting along with other kids growing up. Maybe it was because I didn’t go to school that much and I didn’t know how to talk to other kids. When you found out I didn’t have any friends, you took me to the corn field and talked about why I should have friends. Two days later you were knocking at my door with another kid. You pushed me towards the kid and I didn’t know what to do. You had it all planned out and I was forced to play with him. That’s how I started making friends, because of you. I felt good, I was happy and I thank you so much.

I don’t want to be different from you. I want to be a hard worker just like you. My DNA is music and horses, like you. I am more than positive I got my talents from you. I remember all those times we used to ride horses and sing together. I always respected you. I loved the way you used to be with us. You wouldn’t care how you would dress as long as we dressed perfect you would be happy.

I like my life different from yours because you used to struggle so much. You barely went to school because you had to work. I didn’t see how you died but when I was younger my grandma used to lie to me saying you died from old age and being overworked. As I got older I overheard my grandma and dad talking about you. You hadn’t died the way my grandma told me, they killed you. My grandma pulled me aside and said, “I am gonna be honest with you; your grandpa was killed because he won a race of horses.” Ever since my grandma told me you died because of horses, I didn’t love them as much I used to. I want to thank you, Grandpa for everything you did for me. You made me change so much. I’ll see you soon, Grandpa. I love you so much. Rest in peace.

Sincerely,

JEFFREY D.

Dear Grandma,

First of all, thank you so much for being you. You’ve been there for me ever since I was born and you always taught me right from wrong. Life wasn’t easy at all for you, coming from El Salvador because of all the violence going on at the time. To me, that’s something a true woman would do. You’ve come a long way and I would never know how to thank you enough. You always told me my only job was to focus on school and get along with all my siblings. That’s how you raised us, to get along with one another.

Growing up with teenage parents who worked while finishing school, I spent most of my childhood years with you. As a baby I was oblivious to so many things, however you were there to teach me. The most inspiring part was, you didn’t know how to read or write but that didn’t matter, you did whatever it took to help us learn and understand.

Of course families have their issues and ours unfortunately had to experience that. My mom didn’t allow me to speak to you for almost two years and that was the worst feeling I have ever experienced. I felt alone because I had lost someone whom I could talk to. I wasn’t going to hold a grudge or be angry at my mom or you. I had to accept it and move on no matter how hurt I felt. You showed me family is forever, no matter what obstacles we go through. Even though you would make me sit through one of your lectures, at the end of the day I would still care about you. Everything you’ve shown me has made me who I am today.

TO MYSELF

Dear Future Self,

Tell me I made it, that I graduated high school and college and I am being productive with my life. Tell me I didn’t go down the wrong path, that I learned from my family’s mistakes. Tell me I didn’t quit and become another Latina who gave up. Tell me I took advantage of all the opportunities I had, and I am still thankful for this amazing privilege to attend school and be productive with my life. Tell me I’ve been a good role model to my siblings. Tell me my family’s sweat and struggles paid off that it wasn’t a waste of their time, coming here and going through a lot. Tell me my parents are proud of what I’ve become.

All my life I remember wanting to help others but never really knowing how. Now my biggest dream is to become a nurse. I want to help others by taking care of them. Tell me I accomplished my goal of becoming a nurse and I am helping others.

Tell me I’ve made a change. I hated seeing my grandmother and tía feel shy to talk because they didn’t speak English. Tell me I did something about that and people aren’t shy to talk to me in their native language. We speak such a beautiful language, we shouldn’t feel embarrassed to express ourselves. I want be to seen as a reliable person that you could talk to.

In our families, society, and in the world I’ve seen and learned many things. One of the biggest issues I find important is patriarchy and sexism. Throughout our lives, we as women are told we need a man and we must learn how to cook and take care of the kids. When and if I do get married I hope to share these responsibilities with the person I am with. He won’t be like my father who is very machista. My dad would constantly tell me I need to learn how to cook or else I wasn’t ready to get married. At family gatherings none of my male relatives would do any cooking aside from barbecuing. Tell me my family changes the way they see this. We as women could do more. Tell me I’ve been a good influence to other women.

Make sure I am leaving a legacy that is worth remembering. Tell me you are doing great things with your life and you’ve accomplished your goals and made a change in your life. I hope to hear and live this soon.

Sincerely,

The younger MARIA G.

Dear Future Me,

In my Ethnic Studies classroom I have learned more about my culture. The “Land of the Free” is really just a mask that hides horrible things when it’s uncovered. Pain. A lot of people lost their lives. Your loved ones had to be separated from you to do a job that they didn’t want and become a slave for someone. It’s very awful to hear what the Native Americans had to go through, but I’m glad we had the opportunity to learn the truth and learn about the Indigenous people because they’re a part of story that should also be heard. Christopher Columbus showed his true colors, it also made me look at Thanksgiving in a whole different perspective.

We learned about a lot of inspiring women that I look up to now. We need more women like Rosa Parks to stand up for what they believe in. Quotes like “I change myself, I change the world” by Gloria Anzaldúa Inspire me. Gloria wanted to change the way society looked at women. In the Hispanic culture men have all the power and the women do things like cook and clean the house. Gender roles exist within the Chicano community and she didn’t agree with them and wanted to make a difference. She writes of the oppression she went through growing up specifically being a women of color. As a Chicana feminist she challenges gender, ethnicity, race, class, and sexuality. Women like Malintzin and Emma Tenayuca also challenge oppression and the way society views women. It is heartbreaking that we don’t hear about women like them in history class which leads to only learning about men. History/Herstory is a challenge we face in schools today. We should learn more about women that wanted to make a positive change in society.

Stereotypes grew in modern life which is upsetting. We stereotype each other in our community. We internalized ourselves to believe we are worthless dropouts. A very common stereotype for Hispanic males is being a gang member. We base them on the distinctive dress style. For example if a boy is wearing baggy clothes he is a cholo and that is an assumption we make as a community. Machismo is also a big problem in our Latino community. We come to believe that only women have to cook and clean the house while the “man of the house” is sitting down watching TV. Telling young boys that men don’t cry and to not show their feelings when they are sad or upset only

creates problems. I know for some people changing the way they think is hard but it’s not impossible.

Even though some things are better in the present there are still things that divide us, oppression surrounds all of us especially in our community. I want the next generation to focus in school and hopefully also learn these things. For my gals that are pregnant, just know everything is going to be alright, don’t see the easy way out and quit school. Your baby should be your motivation to finish school, we need more Latinas to graduate school and represent our community. For more people from our community go to a university and make business of their own. I want more people from our community to stand out and represent our culture. I want this with any other other culture not only my Hispanic roots. Most of all I wanna live in a world where race, religion, or sexual orientation doesn’t divide people, we learn to accept people as they are. Future me I wish you don’t forget anything you learned in this classroom and wish you the best on your mission to change the world. Remember Abraham Lincoln once said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”

AMANDA Z.

YOU CAN’T SPELL “SCHOLAR” WITHOUT “CHOLA”

Dear Future Self,

You’ve been doing good. Your grades have been up because you kept your mindset on being a lawyer for the future. Now that hard work payed off. It wasn’t easy because I went through poverty, inequality, and a lot of stereotypes. For example the stereotype I got was that people that didn’t believe in me and thought that I was a “chola” and that I wouldn’t make it! There would be negative people and say I didn’t deserve it.

Here I am now being a good lawyer. Also you’re the only girl in the family. Geo and Danny would get treated better in your eyes because “boys don’t clean or cook” so I did all the cleaning and cooking while they were chilling on the sofa while watching TV--that is a form of patriarchy. I thought that wasn’t right! It’s inequality because they did nothing and you did everything so you would get mad. Remember when you had told mom and dad that you were going to be a lawyer since 6th grade? You got closer and closer each day because you had good grades. Mom and dad would always smile and tell you that you can do it. Like there was this one day when Tia Olivia came over and mom told her and she agreed. You can tell she didn’t really believe it because in her face she would make these eyes that would squint like if she didn’t wanna see you make it. She always bragged about her kid, so she wouldn’t wanna see you doing better than him. Even through those days you were humble.

Mom and dad always got you everything you wanted and needed. You had that privilege because you were the only girl and you had good grades.They went through a lot just to get you your expensive iPhone 7 Plus, Jordans, and all the money you would get for your eyebrows and nails. We went through poverty at the time. It was a struggle, you went through so much. A change I would like to see is my parents not working in the bakery they own called Armando’s Bakery. You saw how much they struggled day in and day out. Dad would work from 4:00am-6:00pm and Mom from 8:00am-7:00pm on a daily basis. That’s what made you think like ‘dammmn’ I need to stay in school. Mom and Dad would also say education was the key to success. They were right!

Now that I have overcome all this, it is my turn to help those in need and those who are undocumented and are at a disadvantage. I want to help them by giving them what they need like legal guidance. I can only do this if I pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. Future self, I hope you continue to help those less fortunate.

GUADALUPE B.

Dear Future Moi,

STRONGER THAN EVER

I never realized it before but as I am writing this, all the thoughts came rushing in and made me realize you are very strong. Stronger than I thought (indeed you are a good friend.) You went through everything as a kid, hate, fear, loss, stress, not to mention all the drama in the family. The hell hole was the toughest, you were so hurt you couldn’t think anymore. You changed so much over the year. All the hate you gathered towards yourself for being the black sheep of the family. You were being discriminated against by always putting your younger sibling before yourself and not being treated as equals. It was a hierarchy, he was at the top and you were at the bottom.

For the hatred to continue in your life, you were brainwashed by a person close to you, causing you to hate your father for the things you were told. All these negativities provoked you to hate him, influencing you to not want to talk to him or visit him. As you grew older you started to comprehend what was going on around you. You started to realize not everything you were told was true. Being the way you were made you fear the love people would give you. Because you were always discriminated and left for your brother, you feared the love people gave you, shut them down, and pushed them away, “to save myself from getting hurt.”

As a kid you were always afraid of the dark. It became part of you and you started to enjoy being in the dark. The years 2013- 2016 were the most difficult years of your life. You struggled with being the shadow of the family. When you lost your grandfather everything went downhill. You were targeted more, constantly being told you were an, “estorbo, inútil, buena para nada” They always made you feel worthless. As you were recovering from the loss of your grandfather, another horrible pain struck you.

You lost a very amazing person in your life, his death was so difficult, it had you in another dimension. You witnessed his death, unable to do anything but watch him take his last breath. Hearing his friends and family screaming for him not to leave, you couldn’t move. It felt as if somebody hit the pause button on your life. You were just standing there watching but couldn’t move a muscle.

You met a great person you started to care about as time passed. He was an amazing person but unfortunately he passed away and it affected you even more. Losing three people year after year was difficult.

As you were growing up, many things were going on in your life. You were so lost. You are stressing over many things like school, home, trying to make your family happy. You try to keep a positive attitude. Your family was a “family” when you were a little kid but as you got older all of that changed. Soon enough your “family” was no long considered a family.

Reading this, Iremember my childhood and how horrible it was. Although it was full of negative experiences I am actually glad I went through it all. It changed me dramatically and made me not fear the world nor losing people because not everyone in life is permanent. This has made me realize even the people closest to you can still bring you down. The emotional drama I went through as a kid taught me how to be strong. It made me stronger than ever!

Your beloved younger self,

BROOKE

Dear Future Self,

My family members had a difficult life due to having less opportunities than I do now. I am trying to make as many changes for this community as I can. I wish I can be like The Flash and get things done faster, but what I’m doing now is good enough. My education is my top priority. If I can go back in time I would’ve wanted my ancestors to get the education they deserved. My whole family other than my dad didn’t get a chance to have a proper education like I have now. They were hard-working people and they should’ve gotten the chance to experience what I’m feeling and learning.

I’ve participated in two protests so far which I never thought I would, don’t let those be the last! The empowerment I felt when I went to both were speechless. My first thought was how my mom and dad felt when they risked everything they had for a better future. It took me a while to realize that but I know that is what I want now. I also want more hard-working immigrants to get the future they deserve. Not being able to learn, have equal pay, or use their voice is saying they didn’t get a chance to experience freedom. My ancestors were limited to resources that could have helped them tremendously. I am still young and don’t have as many privileges as adults do, but I am taking what I have now to help others who are struggling.

My vision for the future is hard to explain. I want to see more positivity in the world, no more labels or oppression. Oppression has gotten to the extent where you wish you can do so much to change it, but you can only do so little. I know there will always be hatred in the world but I want there to be agreements to solve conflicts. Why can’t there just be peace?

By now I better be a hero or someone influential because I hardly see people trying to change what I am describing, so I have to do it myself. I am an activist, I am worth it.

Sincerely,

KELSEY H.

Dear Peter (Present),

I live differently from my ancestors because there are no problems. I want to be different in life so I won’t be struggling. My goal is to attend college and make everyone happy. The reason for going to college is because neither my parents nor anyone else in my family went. I would be the first. My ancestors from Michigan wanted me to go to college and achieve my goal because they didn’t attend.

One obstacle is friends because they have bad legacies that can put you in a bad spot. The opportunities my ancestors and parents didn’t have were a good job and taking a rest. My mom told me she was tired already, to go to college and get a great job so I won’t suffer like her. I want to help her with everything she needs so she won’t suffer or worry. In the future I want to be an NBA player so I could be a great athlete and help my mom.

Let’s make it happen!

PETER M.

MY STORY

Dear Future Self,

I hope these social toxins we have now aren’t carried into future generations. I want to see a positive generation even if there are some negativities such as racism and stereotyping. I want to see more happiness than sadness within the next seven generations.

Changes I would like to see in the future are in schools. Students aren’t having fun at school due to the amount of work they are getting and the lack of time they have to complete it. They need nicer teachers and better classes in many schools. For me, better classes have teachers that actually teach students in preparation for their future careers. A priority I want to see is more students graduating from high school because I feel that many students don’t take school seriously. If there were more students who graduate from school in the world there would be a lot more jobs. School is a serious thing and many students who don’t take it seriously usually end up living in poverty and hardships.

One main thing I would want to see eliminated in the future are gangs because they affect adults and students in a dramatic way. Gangs are one the of the reasons why students don’t graduate because they take the gangs more seriously than school. Sometimes they don’t realize their future will be affected because they care about their gang so much they end up failing school and scramble to make some type of money in the future. If all those things happened, the world would be a much better place. Many jobs would open up, there would be very few lazy people and there wouldn’t be as much gang violence. I hope this comes true in the future and remember, take school seriously because it will affect your future!

Sincerely,

9TH GRADE RONALD A.

Dear Future Michelle,

It’s 14 year old Michelle and I am going to remind you of the truth. In my ethnic studies class I learned about colorism, racism, police brutality, oppression, patriarchy, sexism, etc. Today life is disappointing because people have been brainwashed into believing that the world has changed. But has the world really changed? We have become so ignorant and blind from the truth. Why is it that when we see police we fear them and not feel safe? Why do we call this country the “ land of the free” when people don’t even live in peace. For example, people of color can’t even walk down the street without being pulled over by the police. Patriarchy surrounds us, men have more power than women. Women are getting paid less than men and women aren’t truly considered as leaders. An example of a stereotypes is, men are “meant to work” and women “are meant to stay home and clean” and women “can’t do men’s work.” Kids of color are embarrassed of their skin color they are believed to be someone ugly, dumb, and a bad child. Colorism is bad because it begins at a young age which will affect them in the future, affect their self-esteem, and not be proud of who they are. It’s like everything was swept under a carpet and pretending like it’s not there but, it is there and it is being seen as “normal.” This is how life is now and it’s wrong and disappointing. I believe it’s time for a change. I want to be known as the person that stood up for the people that couldn’t stand up for themselves. I want to be known as the woman who stood up for justice. I want to be that woman in protests not afraid of speaking up. I want to inspire people to do the right thing, I want to be seen as a leader. I want to be the person you look up to. Someone that never stopped believing that there could be a change and keeps fighting for people’s rights. I want to make and be part of a positive difference. I don’t want to be remembered as a bystander. We need to act now we need to do it for our next generation. We should fix and accept our mistakes and learn from them. If we don’t, nothing will get better. Hopefully, after we fought and made a huge difference, people are walking down the street without fear. Kids of color are proud and not ashamed of their skin. Women can stand up and become leaders without being judged. And women are getting paid the same as men. People aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe and have become strong and everyone is being treated the same. Only then can it really be said that this is the land of the free.

Sincerely,

MICHELLE J.

Dear Future Self,

So tell me future self, was I able to get my family out of those dangerous apartments-where each day could have been our last? Have my parents finally left the jobs that overworked and underpaid them? My biggest goal was to give them what they couldn’t give me. Repay them for the many sacrifices they made for me. My parents have worked to offer me a better life. To offer me the many things I would have not been able to accomplish in their native land. My parents left their families, their country and their people to seek more. So future self, tell me that I’ve made them proud.

I can relive the moment in my head, when I first saw a man die on my doorstep. I was about ten, pouring my late night bowl of cereal when I heard *pow* and immediately heard footsteps as mi apa turned the doorknob, I stood quivering. He swung open our door, blood splattered, and then a man collapsed, he’d been shot in the back. My heart dropped as he fell to the floor and tears ran down my face. My biggest fear was leaving my home, my family, my comfort and one day it could be someone I care for collapsing at my doorstep.

So tell me future self, did I make it out the projects? Will I make my community safer? Will I ever make a difference? Everyday everyone lives in fear because of the violence in my community. Racism is often the least of our worries when we constantly worry about or safety. People ostracize those of a different ethnicity here. Kids can’t play outside, families can’t gather and we can’t even throw the trash out without fear. There’s been an ongoing battle between gangs for territory in my neighborhood. Cops don’t even step foot or intervene in our apartment complex until it’s too late. Until an innocent life has already been lost.

In order for my community to change we’d have to start off in schools where they can invest more on the youth’s education and make sure that children can focus on their goal instead of getting involved in gangs and drugs. Many teachers give up on students just because of how they’ve seen students in the past end up before. Teachers think they know us, what we’ve been through. But they have no idea. I’ve had to be resilient throughout my school years, not because I wanted to but because I had to. Teachers didn’t dedicate themselves to us, so we have to do it on our own.

I hope I’ve gotten further than many may have expected from me. I hope I’ve gone to college and made a good living for myself. I hope I’ve moved my family out of the projects and given them a better life. I hope I’ve offered a hand to those in need. This is not the end of our growth future self, our journey isn’t done yet.

Keep fighting!

ALFREDO S.

LOOK BACK ON THIS

Dear Future Amy,

What impact did you want (hope) to see in the next seven generations when you were fourteen? In the next 7 generations, I wanted to see a thriving community. Things that were holding this back were stereotypes, racism and poverty. Stereotyping was a problem within the community because people used to be racist to their own race, colorism. Racism was another problem in the community because others would make us look bad or think badly about the Latino culture, they were always based off of the lies, the stereotypes. Poverty always dragged the community down. It wasn’t necessarily our fault though. If I could speak up, starting small, maybe there would be a difference. If I could change the stereotypical system, maybe there would be a difference. If we were equal or even just considerate about the community’s low income situations, there would be a difference.

I also hoped to see legal rights in the next seven generations. There were a few things that would hold us back from this opportunity. For example, poverty, hierarchy, and economy. Poverty was a major issue to have legal residency. Some families were economically disadvantaged and only had enough to provide for their children. The hierarchy of whites being better than Latinos was another issue. People have this idea that whites are better people living a better life and that Latinos are not so good people living the crappy life. We bring the issue of economy again. The economy wasn’t fair, we used to pay taxes for some stupid reasons or just get tickets for doing small errors. Those small errors could turn into huge problems, which could affect an illegal person’s residency rights.

Finally, I had also hoped to see a growing middle-class community. But, there were always obstacles that wouldn’t let us reach that goal. It was mostly our growth, the privilege and the police brutality. The growth of the community was slow. Since we lived in a low income community, I guess we didn’t get much attention as higher class areas who already had too much! Like Montebello and Beverly Hills. The privilege of being able to live in a middle class community was so unlikely. I guess we didn’t have the same looks or

requirements to start growing a middle-class community. For example, the way houses looked or the way our streets look. Police brutality is another one. If people look at the records of Boyle Heights police brutality, we’ve had a pretty high rating. That’s another reason people don’t bother to try and start a middle-class community, because they’re afraid of the change and gentrification. The way it’ll affect our daily lives.

I love this community, I want change, I want a better life, and if I’m reading this in the next few years, it’s probably because I’ve been building my way up to take action and make the change I wanted to see in my community!

Sincerely,

AMY O. From The Past

Dear Me,

You are successful, intelligent, and unique. You are going to travel all around the world. You want to go to New York, Paris, or even visit your grandparents in Mexico. I want you to show your family that your identity means a lot to you because you want to prove that you can do anything. I don’t want to fail just because you think you are not good enough to go to college or succeed in life. You can and you will make a difference in your life. You had the privilege to take advantage of so many programs such as College Track, and Alma. You have so much support and I want you to know that you are doing incredible. Do not be the girl that was lazy, and felt like she would never succeed when she was fourteen. You are going to make your parents proud and stop causing them trouble in any way. I want you to get up from your bed pick up a book and start reading it. You can give yourself a challenge on reading a book, one day you read one chapter the next day you read two chapters. It’s time that you make a change in the way you are. Don’t ever stop believing in yourself, you are also successful. Every time you feel great about it is just proving you are succeeding. Just like when you culminated middle school. Remember that moment when you walked through the aisle. By culminating that means you are leaving a legacy not just for you but for your family too. Knowing that your parents weren’t able to finish middle school is another reason to make them proud and also another reason to keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

EMILY R.

Dear Present Self,

I need basketball to get me somewhere. My grandma put me in basketball when I was only four years old. My grandparents were the ones who raised me, my dad left when I was three years old and my mom is not there when I need her. My grandparents put me in sports because they want me to follow my nino’s footsteps. My nino was a really good baseball player and almost played as a professional pitcher until he injured his arm. My grandparents want me to go far and they realized basketball was the only sport I liked after trying to put me in different sports.

I currently still live with my grandparents but it doesn’t feel the same anymore. They are barely capable of attending my games or taking me to school. I have to cope with having no playing time to having no support other than my sister and uncle because my grandparents are old. Every time I step on the court, I play as though it were my last game. Basketball is the only thing I want to do everyday, I feel like it will get me somewhere in life.

Sincerely,

TIMOTHY R.

THE FUTURE IS HOPEFULLY GOOD

Dear Future Me,

I hope I withstand all the problems our society faces and get rid of them like a piece of cake. I hope I can face my own challenges, such as getting good grades and a high school diploma and hopefully going straight to UC Berkeley or USC because those are my favorite universities. I am a freshman at Roosevelt Senior High School. I love playing sports, especially football. In my future, I can see being an engineer working for people so they can have better use of things like making cool machines and inventions. Also I hope we have lots of money and a big house with lots of birds, dogs, and cats and more. I also picture myself having a sports car with white rims and all black paint. I can imagine myself driving through the streets on a sunny day heading to the beach with my kid and my wife. Also racing in the night with other people for money because it’s fun driving fast and racing and having fun in the night.

I just want to say that I hope we can go through all the problems we are going to face because nobody is perfect and there is no one in the world without any problems. I hope myself in the future and my kids don’t go through the struggles my family have been through. I would like to keep my family safe and healthy with me and having a good life. I also want them to be proud of me and I want to thank them for all they have done for me and pay them back the best way possible -- by getting them a big house with a pool and everything they want for the house. I see my future with my beautiful wife and kids traveling around the world and learning new cultures and different types of foods and celebrations we don’t have here in the United States. I would also love to play professional football in the future and I can even see my wife and kids cheering at home or at Lambeau field. I would love to play for the Green Bay Packers and in college the Wisconsin Badgers because football is really big in my life. I love playing football and watching it as well because it is really fun to play and you can relieve stress playing football and watching it can give you stress but it is exciting as well. I could also see my son Aaron in the future, because I’ll name him after Aaron Rodgers because he inspires me to play football when injured or not because in one year he was injured the whole year but he still played and we still went to the NFC championship. Also I want Aaron to be my son’s name because

Aaron did the impossible by throwing three hail mary touchdowns in one season. I admire him becuase he started as a backup quarterback for Brett Favre and then won the starting position for quarterback in 2008 and finally a Superbowl with the Packers in 2011.

I hope my son is a Green Bay Packers fan and I hope he loves playing sports just like me and I hope he will be a successful kid and a respectful and hard working person in his future like me, well I hope he reads this and I hope this has an impact on him so he will never give up when he is down.

Sincerely,

RAFAEL B.

P.S. Cavs 2017 champs

Dear Future Self,

By now I hope you will have started our journey to leave our legacy in the world. This is Jason at age 15 let me tell you the impact I hope you started to do something to clean our streets and help our environment. Right now what I am doing to help the environment is that I go out and collect plastic bottles and I save plastic bottles we finish using in our house and I take them to a recycling center at the end of each month. I usually get twenty dollars I save it so that I can buy myself stuff.

My grandma inspires me because I see how she reuses the two liter bottles by turning them into pots. She does this by cutting off the top half of the bottle and fills it with a plant and soil. My grandma grows plants that help heal our cuts and burns. The plant she uses is aloe vera and we cut them and when there is a burn or cut on one of us she rubs the ointment in it and it heals us. When I see my grandma do this it makes me feel that she cares about us. My mom is also an inspiration because she uses our old shirts and cuts them up into rectangles and we use them as rags. By our next seven generations I hope more people are reusing items, turning things into household items like my family. I also want more people to be recycling like me.

JASON O.

TO OTHERS

THE “PERFECT” PERSON

Dear Society,

Who do you think you are, labeling people based on the color of their skin, race, gender, or sexuality? Why are you telling us how to act or dress based on our gender? Why are some girls insecure, including me? On social media you show women who are perfect. They have clear skin or wear a lot of makeup, they’re either fit or skinny to look perfect. They’re also tall and act feminineI’m not. Some girls even get plastic surgery to achieve that “no makeup” look.

I feel confident with the people I hang out with. With some friends, I’m shy and with others I’m energetic. “It is true that pain is beauty. Don’t be dramatic, it’s only some plastic, no one will love you if you’re unattractive. All the makeup in the world won’t make you less insecure.” -Melanie Martinez. People expect girls to act “girly” and not masculine. I can’t relate to being girly because I wear a jeans and a tee-shirt and I like playing sports. Does that make me not feminine enough? I want people to like me for my personality and not my looks. Girls are expected to know how to apply makeup, they can’t cut their hair, they need to smell good, and never swear because it’s not “ladylike”.

It might take time for me to feel confident in my own skin. I may not be tall or have blonde hair or colored eyes but I don’t care what you think. I want you to stop labeling people when in reality everyone is different. Everyone is beautiful no matter what gender, race, or sexuality. And if you can’t accept people the way they are then deal with it.

Sincerely,

ALEJANDRA C.

Dear Anxiety,

Let me socialize and meet new people. Let me talk to someone without trying to analyze their every word and movement, trying to figure out what they’re thinking and where they’d rather be than in front of an anxious mess. It’s always the same routine, thinking I am the epitome of awkward and undeserving of friends. You followed me up to the day I felt electricity in my chest and I was too scared to speak to the people I loved so dearly. My friends whom I’ve known for so long felt like strangers because I was too afraid the words coming out of my mouth weren’t good enough. You continued visiting me until I isolated myself and told people I was just “tired.” To this day you follow me in every conversation and every social interaction I have. To this day I refuse to let you take control of me. Not again.

BRIANNA

Love,

Dear Self Love,

I crave you. I crave you when I see myself in the mirror. I crave you when I start comparing myself to the models in magazines. I crave you when it’s hot outside and I decide to not to wear shorts because I don’t like how big my thighs look in them. I want you more than anything. I want to be able to love myself inside and out. I know I’m full of amazing, creative, and unique ideas. I know I’m smart but the only problem is I don’t believe in myself. I want to be able to love my smile the way my mom does. I hate being insecure, I want to find the beauty in a beauty mark. How do you get someone to love themself? Teach me, please.

I believe self love is very important. Self love to me, is when you don’t hate yourself for being a certain way or a certain color. Self love is embracing the freckles on your cheeks instead of covering them up with makeup. Self love is learning to love the stretch marks on your skin. Self love is seeing negative comments on a picture you posted and not being influenced to take it down. I disagree when people say, “If you aren’t happy with yourself how do you get to be happy with someone else?” I believe someone who loves you and compliments you daily could empower you and show you how beautiful and smart you are. I once read a quote, “I loved you so good, you started loving yourself. That was my gift for you and you were mine.”

How do I get my imperfections to look stunning in my eyes?

Sincerely,

HOANA G.

“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”

Dear Future Generation,

I hope you’re better-way better than life is today. There’s so many horrible things going on like the bomb drop in Manchester. Young innocent lives are being taken away and how, in any way, is that fair? An eight year-old girl died at a concert and an eighteen year-old girl went missing and was confirmed dead a day later—her mom was devastated. What happened that made people think it was okay to bomb a city, a town, a country, a nation? What happened that made them turn so cold-hearted, they decided violence was much better than striving for peace? I’m utterly confused and I wish I knew. I hope the next generation continues to ask these questions and have better answers because the poverty, racism, oppression, and nationalism needs to stop.

They say “Make America Great Again” but what does that even mean? Does that mean returning to slavery, to whites having more power, to continued wars? Because what is known as America, today was not great when Christopher Colombus decided to take over a land that was already inhabited. It most certainly wasn’t great when civil rights didn’t exist and white people felt entitled over colored people. It wasn’t great when the Japanese were outcast and shunned after Pearl Harbor, or when Mexicans weren’t allowed to speak their own language in schools. When was it ever great? I fear with Trump as president, the world is rapidly falling apart. I hope you’ll look back at this and see the racism for what it is, and have hopefully moved on from hierarchies and oppression.

It’s May 26, 2017 and social media has been the place where people go to grieve. Hashtags are how we pray for people who died, were injured, or are experiencing something no human should ever have to experience. Do you understand how heartbreaking and upsetting that is, to be confined to phones and computers? I hope we never have to make another hashtag to spread awareness because we cannot find another outlet. I hope one day there’ll be peace, and we won’t have to mourn another death caused by bombing or shooting. But you have to care and I hope you really do. Care enough to make a change, to speak up and do something- anything. Because

at this moment I’m not doing anything other than tweeting my condolences because I’m too scared to stand up and demand for peace in a world that has turned absolutely chaotic.

We’re going back in time, in a world where homophobia might just be accepted once more. Where separating families is okay and degrading women will always exist. I am writing this throughout different days, and each day I find something so upsetting in the world we live in. I’m hoping and praying you are all better. We’re all the same after all. Some of us just have a different skin color but we still find similarities. We all have different talents but if you look closer, someone else has a similar talent, nuanced in their own way. We all have different music preferences but you’ll meet someone who shares the love for a particular genre, artist, or song. Do you see where I’m going with this? We’re not that different after all so please don’t hate one another by holding your race or language as superior. We are all equal human beings, and we all have beating hearts.

I’m questioning why we have so much hate and I’m wondering if things will be the same for the next generations. I can’t help but feel sad that I really don’t know. We have made improvements like legalizing gay marriage in different states. When the news broadcasted this wonderful information I was so happy! Now people could get married without having to worry about their gender. I can only say it was beautiful and heartwarming that, little by little, we were becoming more open as a society.

But hate spewed out of it too because “God’s against it, it’s a phase, and women need men.” I find it horrible that all this exists and my classmates think it’s funny and acceptable to call each other offensive names. It’s saddening and disgusting that “tranny” is used to insult transgender people, and people who identify as transgender get kicked out of their homes because it’s seen as disgusting to their families. It’s not right.

Is all this hate actually worth it? Are all the hierarchies worth the pain and hardship of others? I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s worth the violence, the nasty name calling, the shunning, or the hate. Always be open-minded and think of others. Be compassionate, sympathetic, and empathetic. Understand and lend a helping hand. Please don’t think you’re better than another human being because people like Columbus implied it. Learn from the good and

pure people who tried to create a better future for kids like us and people like you. Try to be better than us. Maybe you can’t change someone who hates others, but you can be better if you all stop and think about it. Ask yourselves if hate is worth it, but actually think about it. Think about what’s happened to us and our ancestors. I can only hope you’ve made the best decision. Be better and be good. Don’t try to change someone’s religion or sexuality, it’s not like it physically harms anyone. We are family and we’re all more similar than different. So make a change, be better.

Sincerely,

SOMEONE WHO REALLY WANTS A CHANGE IN THIS WORLD

Dear Time,

Since you are the past, present, and future you can answer some of my questions. Will I be someone who helps people in the future? I ask this because I want to be a firefighter. I know it would take a lot of work but I would go through all of the fires in the world to help the people in need. If I have children would they have the same sense of right and wrong as me? If not, I would make sure they learn the difference. Are our futures already written or do we write our stories as we go on with our lives? I believe we write our own story and our own future. We write our own destiny.

As of right now I do want to become a firefighter when I grow up but I need to get through high school first. I want to share how I achieve some of my goals. Someone from the past who has made me who I am today are my parents. They taught me right from wrong like to never steal or disrespect an adult.

My first question I have for the past is about my ancestors. How did my ancestors survive the racism from white people back in 1846 when the U.S. declared war on Mexico? From what part of my family did I get the trait of knowing what’s right or wrong? Have my ancestors ever committed any crimes like murder or robbery? If so, I’ll make sure it never happens again. For now that’s all the questions I have. I hope you can answer all or most of my questions. I’ll have more questions soon.

From, ANTHONY R.

BE BRAVE. TAKE RISKS. FOR LOVE

Dear Emil,

This will be super cheesy and embarrassing but I’m writing this only to you. While walking through the Japanese garden I saw so many couples cuddling, kissing, and calling each other pet names. At first I was disgusted but a little voice in my head said, “I wonder how it would feel to have someone with me and stay with me?” I’ve always felt lonely. Yes, I have amazing friends and family but I want someone to hold me tight and never let me go. Growing up I faced so many problems, I convinced myself I didn’t need anyone because I was scared that one person could hurt me so much. I thought I would be better off by myself. I never knew how to love another person because I never knew how to love myself.

One amazing night I wound up on a website about drawing. I was a newbie in a public chat room, not knowing what to do but somehow I wound up meeting you. I thought you were just another random person but you were so different, you were so caring, kind, and sweet. We started off as strangers, then friends, then my crush and now a relationship. When I was in the public chat room with some friends I was very nervous to tell you those three words, “I love you.” I was scared to confess and started thinking negatively, “What if he doesn’t like me back? What if he loves someone else?” but I decided to shut up and just do it already.

When I confessed to you I was ready for your response and ready for the worst. When I saw your face for the first time, the little voice inside my head told you, “I hope you don’t fall for anyone else, it would break my heart.” I had butterflies in my stomach which I never knew was possible. I felt like a flower; I stayed closed in the dark but you came up to me like a sunrise. When I saw you I bloomed and shared my feelings with you.

I know we’re in a long distance relationship but I know in my heart we will meet so I can’t wait. You helped me so much during my hard times and you’ve been there for me. I hope you read this little note because it shows how much I love you. If someone else is reading this, I hope you find someone who loves you as much as you love them. All I can say is, you will fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time.

With love,

LET GO

Dear Nature,

I feel free when I see the beauty of you. The way the flowy wind goes through the thousand-year old trees. The way I look up and see the beautiful stars shining. If you listen closely you start hearing the recognizable and mysterious noises. To me, all of that sounds like pure beauty but most of all, the sound of being free. Feeling stress-free, no problems at all! You’re happy!

In some cultures, people are so in love with how pure nature could be. At a certain point they feel such a big strength when they realize how graceful or unified the environment could be. I feel stuck when all my family problems impact me. But when I think about it and witness the perfection and imperfection of the outside world, it’s as if the wind blows away my stress and pain.

When I was a little girl, my very first and only time of getting really close to you, Nature was when I went to Sonora in elementary school. We went to a private forest called “Silent Mountains” so only one person goes in at a time. It’s just you and the tremendousness of nature. At that moment I felt like nothing was better than this feeling. I felt the connection of how warm, tall, and stiff the trees were. As I looked up, seeing the leaves and branches all connected, it’s like a wonder illusion.

These trees were so close together like a big family yet they were all different kinds of trees. It made me realize you don’t have to have the same colored skin or the same blood family to be connected and stable. These trees cross together to the point where they could knock out a branch. When a tree is pricked like that or damaged, it lets out something gooey, and it’s considered as the tree crying. Even trees go through pain because they would get knocked out by someone or something. The same way as us, if people hurt us we breakdown.

There’s always a reason why this happens- let’s give it the benefit of the doubt. What if these tree parts break and fall off because they are the ones hurting the actual tree, so this gigantic tree decides to let that branch go? It’s like us humans, at some point we finally let a person out of our lives because they’ve

caused so much pain. Letting that person go would be the right thing to do, right? If that is so, it would be a good thing for that branch to fall off, so that humongous tree could grow and have something better.

Even the marvelous nature could go through the same pain as us but they get through it. It might take awhile for that branch to get knocked out but eventually it could be great, outstanding, and a relief. Something we as humans should try more is to let go and see where it takes us. It may lead us to something beautiful.

Sincerely,

LESLIE M.

Dear Brain,

THOUGHTS FOR THE BRAIN

You are the reason why I’m a mostly functional human being, other than when physical activity is involved. You help me solve math equations like 3 to exponent of 2 is 9.You help me understand the stories I am reading. You make me think rationally when necessary. Like, “Is it healthy to eat this?” The answer is most likely no but I will still eat it because it’s food! You help me remember facts about YouTubers that shouldn’t really matter but they do to me. For example, when AmazingPhil (a.k.a. Phil Lester) bred hamsters at the age of twelve and the most subscribed YouTube channel is PewDiePie (a.k.a. Felix Kjellberg). However, you aren’t that great at keeping my thoughts in check. Because of you I panic, become anxious, and get scared of things I think will happen but most likely are not going to.

First, let’s talk about my anxiety. Anxiety by definition is the feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. I hate it. Truthfully, I am still learning to control it by not thinking negatively. When I was younger I feared people would think of me as weird because I wasn’t good at public speaking, especially in class. I would get benched for not speaking loud enough. I would sit there and talk to the lady who watched us and I would make origami flowers for her. I spoke to her easily but in class my voice would grow quieter even if I sat in front of the teacher’s desk. I didn’t know it was anxiety; all I knew was I was considered the quiet one in class who couldn’t speak up.

I didn’t know why I had anxiety or why it has increased in some aspects of my live but not in others. I still have trouble speaking out loud in class. When people are talking simultaneously I get quiet and lost in my random thoughts.

Due to my anxiety I have had panic attacks. By definition they are the abrupt onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. I feel like I lose control of my thoughts, emotions, and actions. I mostly panic when presenting in front of a group. I get choked up, lose my breath, and feel my body shaking. It drains me emotionally and mentally, all I want is to be left

alone to sleep as soon as it’s done. What I hate most is the feeling of not being able to control myself for a presentation that everyone else is able to do.

Brain, you make me scared of things that aren’t there- especially at night, then I have trouble sleeping. I’ll see a shadow of something or hear a noise and I start to overthink. You never shut down for me to sleep so I stay up watching YouTube videos. I am getting better at dealing with my anxiety, panic attacks, and being an overall scaredy-cat. I am more social and talkative compared to the start of the year and I am more open about my problems. It feels good knowing others won’t judge me for something I was scared to share for a long time. Now I am working to come to an agreement with you, my thoughts, and my emotions.

Sincerely,

LIZBETH

To The Things Holding Me Down:

At times it’s myself always going towards the wrong path, never wanting to go to school in the morning, always wanting to go out late and never being home. I’m always having negative thoughts. When I try to improve I bring myself down by saying, “I could never do it! I will never be like that!”

At times it’s family problems. My family is always on my mind, even though they aren’t here with me. I need them here to show me love, back me up, educate me and teach me how to be a man. The only person here to support and guide me is my older sister. I feel that is a major reason behind my struggle of not being able to rise up. My sister is only nineteen. She’s not studying anymore, she is forced to work so we can have a place to sleep. Thanks to her, I have a home. From her I learned that if I struggle today it will all be worth it tomorrow. She taught me to fight for those whom I love and never let a little problem affect where I want to be in the future.

At times I feel like it’s society just knocking a few of us down by treating us differently. As kids, all we want to do is play and have fun but once we’re older we have to follow certain rules and some people have more privileges than others.

I remember being in the sixth grade when I started to lose my family. My dad and brother got deported and my mom and older sister left with them. Now it’s just my sister and I. I remember how hard it was to see kids with their families while I sat there thinking, “Why aren’t I able to be here with mine?”

Being here for a while without them has made me a stronger person. I know I have to be resilient and focus on all the good things that happen once the bad things go away. Now I cherish what I have, thanks to being without my parents. It’s true, you don’t really know what you have until you lose it. I’ll admit, there are times I don’t know what to do and I wonder how life would be if I were with my parents instead of struggling here with my sister. But I feel like all of this is my motivation to keep moving forward and do something important in life to make my family proud.

With strength,

LUIS F. N.

Dear New Generation,

NEW GENERATION

Why does this world work like this? Some people are so stubborn and dumb. Yeah, I might be dumb at times but now I realize how everything works in this generation full of hatred and people who don’t know what they’re doing. What I mean by that is, people nowadays act without thinking. They’re racist towards minorities and make them feel worthless. If colored people did that to Whites they would be angry as well. So don’t hurt people if you don’t want it to be done to you.

I often see people not caring about school and those people are stupid. Many others would want to have those opportunities and the people who have it take it for granted. This year I started off well but towards the middle of the school year, started slacking off by missing school a lot. Now there are only a few weeks of school left and I’m scrambling to bring my grades up. A while ago my mom told me, “Mija estudia para que seas alguien en la vida; anybody that doesn’t have what you have would want to be in your position.” This made me appreciate what I have. My mom came from a father who did not let her study to be a lawyer. He wanted her to help out at home, so she did. When she came to the U.S. she attended adult school then went off to college and became a doctor. If she went through all of that at an older age, I can do it and other people can too.

Value what you have, you may regret it later on. I now realize all the opportunities I missed during these past two years and I’m currently working hard, studying to be either a doctor or a writer. I know I’m going to struggle later on, it’s not bad because everyone struggles at one point but I won’t give up. My mom taught me not be a failure in life. When I get to where I want to be, I’m going to say,“Mom we made it.”

I want to see my mom proud now, not later. I don’t know if I’m going to see her later. I try not to think this way but it’s hard. Every weekend I see my mom on the sofa in pain with either a bad stomach pain or a headache. I always see her in her room in the afternoon, opening the big bottle full of pills everyday so she won’t feel pain. I know my mom is a tough person and

she’ll get through this. I ask her how she feels and I could see the pain in her face as she says, “No mija, me voy a descansar un ratito.” I hate it so much. Why my mom? Sometimes I feel like God is punishing us in a cruel way but my mom changes my mindset into believing that God does help. She reassures me, “God does listen. He helped your dad.” It’s true but I just don’t know sometimes. It’s not that I don’t believe in God because I do.

I don’t show when I’m hurting because I don’t want anyone to feel bad for me. Sometimes it’s just better holding it in. But everyone goes through struggles in life, just don’t let them get to you because it may bring you down. Think positively, it will help you go places in life.

Sincerely,

NAILEA G.

WHAT NOBODY UNDERSTANDS

Dear SHINee,

I want to thank you for being my inspiration. Everytime I listen to your music it makes me feel so relaxed, even though I don’t understand Korean. Your upbeat, hip-hop, soothing music influences me to be myself since you get to be yourselves no matter who criticizes your songs because they can’t understand it. Your music also influences me to do what my heart desires which is also music. I remember the first time I listened to one of your songs, I thought it was unique since it was in Korean. Ever since then I started watching you on YouTube and found more of your songs. I think your outfits are very creative and unique just like your dance moves.

I feel happy and energetic when I watch funny videos of you guys. It’s different from how I feel other times because it’s new to me. I felt attached to your group instantly. I feel unique compared to my family and friends since I only listen to your music. Your music inspires me to learn more about your language and culture.

I like how you balance being mature and silly. During your dance practices and recordings for music videos, you five act serious until practice ends and you play around with each other. I think it’s important for people to embrace their true self like the way you five do.

The best day of my life was on March 26, 2017 when I went to see you perform at the LA Shrine Auditorium. I felt so excited and touched since it was my very first concert and it was so memorable. I went with my aunt since nobody else wanted to go with me and as soon as we arrived the lines were so long. I was shocked and happy to see lots of people who listen to your music like me. As soon as the music started and the curtains rose, I jumped out of my seat along with the other fans to sing along with your voices. Even though you live on the other side of the world I’m still happy knowing you’ll come back to see your fans.

When you perform everyone expects you to be perfect and serious, just like how my family expects me to be mature since I’m in high school, on my way

to college. In a way we can relate to this issue. My family expects me to be more mature because I’m turning into a young adult and I have to take on responsibilities just like everyone else. Their main priority is for me to attend college because my parents and siblings didn’t go so it puts a lot of pressure on me. I’m guessing that’s similar to what you guys went through, having to practice singing, dancing and learning different languages. I bet going to school was hard on you guys since you started at a young age in 2008, yet you managed and continued your career.

I’ll say it again, I want to thank you for being my inspiration.You guys inspire so many people around the world and it’s a very big thing to be proud of. When people around the world look at you five they probably see performers but there are other people who see you as ordinary people like us. You inspire me to pursue music and dancing. I also feel like you’re telling your fans, when obstacles arise, don’t let those problems stop you from rising. Hopefully I’ll get to meet you guys so I can read my thank you letter in person.

Sincerely, NATALIE M.

ROUGH CHILDHOOD, BRIGHTER FUTURE

Dear Heart,

You have been shaped by my loving mother, she inspires me in so many different ways. My mom has had a difficult life. Growing up in Mexico City, her family was poor and couldn’t afford much. My grandma had to raise eight children on her own. She wanted to give them a chance at a better life which is why my grandma decided to send my aunts and uncles including my mom to the U.S. This took a lot of love and courage to let her children live far, out of her care. My mother had to grow up without her parents; she was lonely and had to mature quickly.

She didn’t really have a childhood. It took many heartbreaks, scars, and lost memories to be the resilient person she is today. She lived with her sisters and had to balance work, school, chores, babysitting her nephews, and finding time to do homework. She wanted join the military but got pregnant at eighteen. She didn’t get to attend college because she had to stay home and take care of my baby sister and I.

Even though my mother sacrifices a lot, she is very patient with me. She comes home exhausted and is still patient in helping me with homework. Unlike my mom, I struggle to be patient. I tend to lose my temper and get annoyed very easily. Because she is patient with me, I want to be patient and help others. I try to do this by encouraging my friends to participate in City Year, motivating them to improve their grades and to try new experiences.

I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I know I will work hard and with the money I earn, I can create an organization and travel to help people in need. I would like to help girls in other countries who are exploited for causes of oppression, poverty, and lack of education. With what my mom has taught me, my mind has been opened and my heart has been touched by children suffering in different circumstances. This has inspired me to help unfortunate children and adopt in the future in order to provide love and essentials for a happy life. I know I can do it because my mom raises us alone. She is my inspiration and role model. I believe I can achieve my dreams because of the person my mother helped be become.

Sincerely,

NEOMI F.

EXPRESSIONS

LIFE WITHOUT MY PARENTS

KIMBERLY G.

August 14, 2016, 3:30 am. Guadalajara International Airport. My feet hurt from dancing all throughout the party my parents planned for me. I danced as a goodbye. The rhythm of the songs match the beat of my heart. The pressure behind my neck and the way my face looks causes me to feel as if everyone is staring at me. My eyes are bloodshot, small, and puffy, like the stuffed bears that were just gifted to me. My future is uncertain and the way my family tries to suppress their tears is giving me anxiety. “I am strong, I will create my own legacy. I can be resilient,” I assured myself. “Everything will be okay.” I cannot explain how I felt at that moment. Sad? Excited? Proud? By the time I took my seat on the plane I had received at least ten calls from my parents. The flight was exhausting, and all my emotions drained out of my body. I felt relieved when I identified my uncle and cousins at the airport. As we drove, I wondered what would happen to me now on this adventure.

I was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Huntington Park until I was eight years old. Then, my family and I moved to Mexico because of my grandfather’s health. A few years passed and my parents decided it was time to buy their own house after years of renting. My dad was a hardworking man and I had a loving stay-at-home mother. My older sister Selene had already moved onto high school, maintaining her well-acclaimed academic success. Both my younger siblings were the happiest children you would ever meet. I regularly attended school, helped my parents, cleaned my house, was well behaved, and had good grades. Perfect family right? Wrong. We struggled. I could see it in my mom’s eyes when she purchased the weekly groceries or when we traveled to the bank.

I am constantly asked, “Do you ever miss your mom and family?” It’s difficult to explain but the answer is always the same. My family, a hard working family in a hard working land, has always wanted the best for each other. We were never privileged. While I have been living the American dream, they live thousands of miles away in their homeland of Mexico. Even though my parents did not tell me, I knew we always had

difficulties paying for our necessities. I’ve always wanted to lift some of the weight off their shoulders. I did not want them to worry about minor things like chores, school necessities, or our dogs. When my uncle suggested I come to the U.S., I felt as if it were raining cute boys and they all loved me! If my parents no longer paid for my necessities, they could use that money for something else. I couldn’t believe it, I refused at first. I was so attached to my “perfect life” and my family. As time went by and my tío refused my denial, I began considering how drastically my life would change. How many opportunities, like having access to a higher education, experiences, being part of an official soccer team, and chances of being successful would come my way. It started to sink in. I decided to accept my uncle’s proposition.

Coming to the United States was a key to finding my identity by learning how to express myself with words, songs, and even my own clothing. I learned how to be strong, living without my parents, and how to be independent. I decided it was time to make my parents proud and show them what I was capable of. After all, I am a product of their hard work and sacrifices. It has been hard living without my family but it is a necessary sacrifice if I want to be someone in life. Everyday I learn something new about myself and I plan on using that knowledge to grow as a person. I will become the pride of my family. People will know me as a woman with strength and determination to do what she believes. It will be soon. I will always remember the words I said to myself at the airport. Those words will keep me going until the day I die.

MI COLOR HERMOSO

AMY A.

The color of my skin is beautiful. It’s brown and indigenous, I am proud to be as brown as the Mexican natives living in the Puré Pecha from Michoacán. I love my culture and my indigenous blood. Our bond is so strong, even though we don’t share the same blood we treat each other like family. Having the ancestry of a tribe has made me who I am today. I am creative, generous, and respectful. My culture has also helped me figure out ways to fix my problems independently. This is influenced by my ancestors making their own weapons out of the resources around them. I love observing, reading, painting and poems of indigenous art; their history is beautiful. It shows honesty, trust, and truth, and it is very inspiring to see.

Being brown has taught me how to be strong and look at the world differently; focus on the small things and not take them for granted; enjoy more freedom and be proud of being Mexican American with indigenous blood. Some places I love that are full of culture are la Placita Olvera, Mariachi Plaza, and Boyle Heights. I see dancers, old houses and cultural pride. Pride is in me. Pride for my culture and my indigenous blood is all I need.

CARVED IN MY SKIN

Listen to what I have to say and remember. Give me a chance, just wait and see what I truly aspire to be. Fourteen and I can barely write my name without people turning their heads the other way. Judgements are growing because one look at my face and I’m replaced with someone who isn’t me. I’m furious, I just want be taken seriously. I walk along the streets, there’s a kid like me thinking he’s free but I could just imagine him doing better, getting that degree. What changes our minds? Sadly because the color of his skin isn’t something others appreciate. Kids these days hear gunshots as lullabies. Mom, please don’t lie; I know there weren’t any fireworks tonight. Patience little one, give your mama a break. She’s working two jobs just to make you a hot plate. Dad’s not home and you’re feeling kind of sad but sorry honey, he’s kind of worthless where he stands. Or could it be the other way around? Single dad and life is fine or maybe you’re just missing your mother by your side.

I apologize if I get too deep but people need to realize the truth and it’s brought to life by looking into my eyes. My time is up yet there’s much left to say; let me save it for another day. Wherever I go I’ll create smiles that spread over oceans and seas but I’m only human too so hopefully someone will believe in me.

MY INSPIRATION

VICTORIA S.

The two people who inspire me are my grandparents for the cheesy romance they share. They inspired me to become a screenwriter and author, creating cheesy romance stories in movies and books. In our family everyone knows their love story as so romantic it seems too good to be true.

Their story starts off like the forbidden love story of Romeo and Juliet. My great-grandma disliked my grandfather’s romance with my grandmother. She had forbidden my grandma from ever seeing him again, so one night she snuck out to meet him. When my greatgrandmother found out, she was so angry she called the police. From that moment on, they went their separate ways yet still thinking of each other.

They began to see other people and as for my grandfather, he decided to make the best of his life. He married at a young age and became a police officer. With the help of his uncle he received a job working for the president of Guatemala. During his career he faced many difficult encounter and at one point he was shot. Everybody knew my grandfather was unique but this incident came as a disbelief. When looking for a heartbeat on my grandfather’s chest, the doctors discovered his heart was on the opposite side of his body! Thankfully he survived a healthy man.

My grandmother, on the other hand, had never been married. She committed to the same man until his dying day. Their children became the most independent, strong, brave, and bold people I’ve ever met. Her children grew to be very tall, reaching six feet. A few years after all of them finished elementary school, the father of her children died, leaving the children very suddenly but wishing for their mother to be happy once more.

Two months after my biological grandfather’s death, my grandfather’s wife died. One year later my grandparents saw each other once more. When they caught each other’s gaze they realized they were home and

in love again. They married right away, making the children and my grandmother happy. My grandfather, being the kind of man he was, raised the young children as his own. To this day they are still married and happily in love with no regrets.

IS THE GRASS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE?

ITZEL A. S.

Child of an Immigrant Family

“I heard there is wealth”

Was it the beginning or the end of a lifestyle?

Is it the finish line of suffering or the beginning of a nightmare?

Did you ever suffer from hunger?

Hunger to have a better life

Hunger for an opportunity

Hunger to feed your family everyday

Hunger to afford AC on a hot summer day

Hunger to buy a drink when thirst was on the way

Hunger to make your family proud of perfection

What is perfection to you?

Is it true you worked all your life?

You didn’t have a toy-filled childhood

But rather a tool and workload-filled childhood

“I heard there is wealth, I heard there are opportunities for a better life”

Dad, is it true you crossed the desert at the age of sixteen?

Is it true you had to live on a tight budget to afford a 5’ by 5’ room, shared with two other strangers?

I wonder how a $1.50 per hour life is like

Is it true you lived without any insurance?

Working with heavy-machinery without any skills

Is it true you risked your life?

Risked it all for me

But now we are here

How much further do we have to run

Just to be free?

How much higher are we supposed to jump Just to reach an opportunity?

How much longer do we have to fight

To win a bit of privilege?

How much louder are we supposed to be Just to be heard?

Where is happiness?

Is there a limit to happiness? Is happiness having a better life?

BH AND ME

KEVIN G.

The day I was born I was very fortunate. Fortunate for being a Latino living on the border of Boyle Heights (BH) and East LA. I was able to explore the community of BH, with many fast food restaurants and flavors like Las Cemitas. My family would shop and watch movies on the other side, known as East LA. Both sides gave me joy. I grew up going to school, travelling from East LA to BH and having friends on both sides. Throughout my life I thought the whole city was East LA but as time went by I learned. Not only was East LA separate, but the side I lived on was Boyle Heights. Being from the border was the best place I could’ve been raised in.

Not knowing anything was better than knowing everything. When I heard the sounds of car engines and wheels drifting on the streets, followed by gunshots I was very scared. At seven years old I had never experienced a shooting. Thinking it were fireworks, I almost ran outside with excitement. My parents told me what really happened and I was confused. Several shootings happened throughout the years and I always mistook them for fireworks.

One time the famous Chota came in. Hearing all the sirens, curiosity took over. I went out exactly like a Mitotero, a nosy person always spreading chisme. One of the police officers approached my gate to ask if I heard or saw anything. My response was “No.” Her words of advice affected me the most, like a gunshot to the heart. “Be careful when you go out. These streets are dangerous, especially at night.” That night my parents explained what the officer meant about all the pandillas and cholos around our neighborhood.

In my neighborhood there was a gang to my left, to my right and one in front of our home. At that moment I felt unsafe walking through the streets. I didn’t want to stay here anymore but my mom told me, “It’s not the place, but the people who make up that place.” Her words sparked a new viewpoint of Boyle Heights. Since that day, I have loved living in Boyle Heights. Every time I heard someone say, “Boyle Heights is

wack- it’s unsafe and filled with gangs,” I stood up for my home. In my mind retaliating, “ Forget you. You don’t know the truth. You don’t know how it feels to live there. Yes, there might be gangs, but the majority of them are just there. There’s no activity with other gangs. If only you would know, then you will understand.”

I live in a place of happiness yet despair. I see a family cry over a lost one, but get a newborn in return. A community that’s small yet big at heart. When I walk through the streets I see a spectacular place, the place I grew up in. All I can think of is its past, present, and future. Even if it gets removed, the memories will still flow deep in our hearts, and one day we will remember the fun we had together.

Together as Boyle Heights and Me.

ALAS, OZOMATLI

LUPKINA M.

I am the foolish monkey playing games, performing tricks in order to steal the treats.

Spinning around and around.

Ozomatli plays, sings, and dances.

The ancestors gaze up at the spinning monkey. They have shed blood, sweat, and tears fighting against the coyotes, And the monkey is only a fool.

We all must make way for games, right?

But also for war and sacrifices to our heathen Gods. A person must walk with a gentle, elegant pose

While the coward keeps her head down like an idiot.

But when the fun begins, she springs her head up and dances like an even bigger idiot.

And when the coyotes came, I watched the war unfold from the book’s pages.

There are times when the monkey must become a warrior and fight, But, she chose to escape and never come back.

I’m sure I feel something for my ancestors. Without them and everything they’ve done, I wouldn’t even be here right now.

But what use am I to the world as of now?

I am only the foolish monkey, playing games, performing tricks in order to steal the treats of life.

Spinning around and around.

Come one, come all!

Come see the monkey in its cage!

Eeek-eek-eek!

GRANDMA

JULIANA R.

One person who influenced me is my grandma. She lives in Fontana but is originally from Mexico. She influences me to do well in school by telling me to try my best and that it’s better to fail knowing you tried than failing knowing you never tried. She always tells me to get good grades and be a good person. When I visit her she asks how I’m doing and how school is going. She’s like my second mom except, she’s my grandma and she holds a very special place in my heart. I don’t visit her often but when we talk on the phone it’s like she’s right next to me. My grandma is my biggest supporter. If I tell her I’m going to join a sport she wishes me good luck. If I tell her I finished my homework she reminds me I’m one step closer to going to college. When I’m feeling down she always knows how to make me laugh. She always has words of motivation and I can come to her with anything- I don’t know how she does it! I can’t talk to my parents about my feelings because they turn everything into lectures. That’s why I always turn to my grandma for advice because she is very blunt. She will tell you what she thinks even though you don’t want to hear it. I don’t know what I would do without her.

MY DREAM

ANDRES N.

I am a young person with many dreams. I’m working on getting my high school diploma. When I grow up I will have a well-paying job to help my parents. My family is neither rich nor poor, we are middle class. I’m always looking forward to my future. My mistakes make me stronger because I never give up on myself. I have faced many obstacles but I try not to let them interfere. Many people see me in different ways; I’ve been changing throughout my life. My parents are always there for me. I keep my problems to myself, I don’t try to get attention. I had friends who were only with me through the good times but now it’s as if they don’t know me.

WE ARE SOCIETY

JADA S.

When we are children we learn, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts” Yet people judge us by our appearance. The words we speak are mispronounced They only notice us for our disappearance. In society we are stereotyped and labeled Even though we’re all people. Our true selves are enabled We are supposed to be equal.

Women are expected to be “perfect”

Men are supposed to be “tough”

We all need to reconnect Isn’t having each other enough?

Labels are what separate us from one another We are all humans living in the same universe. Most of us wear masks and have a different cover Yet we are all going to disperse. We use stereotypes to see where we “fit in” If we’re different we are weird. Then we start to hate our own skin

Once we find out who we truly are, we’re feared. We make fun of others when we’re suffering To feel better about ourselves.

While everyone’s minds are buffering And others are confused about themselves. Why is it, when we are children we don’t care about being different? No matter what we do right, people will always point out what we do wrong

We all have this perfect image of how we’re supposed to be Why can’t we all just get along?

Have you ever asked yourself if we’re really free? In this world we focus so much on our looks

What if we all looked the same… then what?

It’s like we are all using the same guidebook We’re turning into robots

By following a leader we call “society”

We play along with its rules

Some of us, along the way, get anxiety

We don’t question anything and end up being fools

There’s some of us who are trying to escape

Once we know the truth that’s when we get smarter

When we learn about our own shape.

That’s when we start to break the border

We blame society but we are society.

If we want our world to change we have to start with ourselves.

I want you to know you don’t have to do things properly

It’s time we break out of our shells.

So what are you gonna do about it?

Only time will tell

We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams

They wanted a better world for us.

Still, people don’t hear our screams

Most of our own past, we don’t even discuss.

We have more freedom but we’re still trapped.

We thought this was the land of the free

But we’ve been lied to, now all we do is adapt.

How could I be free if I’m not allowed to be me?

Times have changed

Technology is more important to us now then it was back then

Now our lives are being rearranged

Us, humans are repeating the past over and over again

When will this end?

I want my ancestors to know I’m trying to change my future so the past won’t repeat

I’m tired of this, I don’t want to pretend.

Finally, then our ancestors dreams will be complete.

What if there was no war?

What if we won the war?

NO WAR? LUIS R.

What if they didn’t trade for the bread?

What if I could talk to the dead?

Will they tell me what they said?

Yourself, you gotta know

You gotta know where to go

You’re not that high

You’re not that shallow

That’s not your usual mood

You’re not that rude

Don’t do what you’re trying to be

Be what you want to do

One of the hardest things to do is avoid hate

And also not do it to them

Suicidal thoughts, angry thoughts, hateful thoughts

Imagine life with these not Government making us robots

Options and choices, you got

Is that really what you want?

MY DNA

ADRIANA E.

What’s inside my DNA? I guess you can say I get my humor, happy vibes, strength, and respect from my dad. My dad had a rough life, he came from a mother who was a housewife to an alcoholic. Because of this he had to drop out of school at fifteen and help my grandma with financial issues. When I use the word “humorous” to describe my dad, I mean he laughs to stay happy and hide what he’s been through. I’m a lot like him when it comes to this. I get my “soft side” and big heart from my mom. Growing up, my mom lived an easy-going life in the city of Guadalajara with her brothers, sisters, and parents. From what she’s told my sisters and I, she always says, “Gracias a Dios, nunca los falto nada.”

My parents raised me to be a tough, powerful, loyal, respectful, educated, and happy woman. As a kid I always thought it would be simple to be that person. Years went by and here I am now, soon to be fifteen, trying to survive in a judgmental society. The years 2015-2017 have been very difficult for me. A very close friend of mine passed away on March 9, 2015. Family problems started to become serious throughout 2016. This year I was diagnosed with depression. I never thought I would have depression. I always tried to keep a smile on my face while hoping things will be over with. I haven’t spoke to a friend about it because I don’t want to be seen differently.

Although I say I have no fears, maybe I am afraid of society and how people view me. I admit, it’s not easy. It’s not easy to communicate with my family. My oldest sister just graduated from CSULA and is getting her life together. My mom barely earns minimum wage then comes home to her role as a housewife. My dad’s out there breaking his back, night and day for us. Most of the time I don’t get to see him. All that work and for what? He doesn’t have enough money leftover to treat himself after paying the bills and providing for his family because he wants the world for us. I thank him so much for that, but I would thank him even more if he actually spent time with me growing up. He never taught me how to ride a bicycle, or how to swim like how other kids at my elementary school would talk about their dads. This is not me talking bad about my

dad; I respect and love him but there are certain things I wished he would’ve done differently while I was growing up. I needed him like I need him now.

Right now, my focus is on school, trying to keep myself mentally stable, and trying to make everything right with my family. I will continue to go to therapy. I guess I distanced myself from everyone and everything. Therefore, I will be more social with family and friends. I will keep going in life and hopefully overcome society from trying to put me down. Maybe then will they have something to talk about.

SOMEONE LIKE ME DESIREE G.

For the people who are different and observant, who have so much frustration and anger; the people who feel sad and depressed or have anxiety: I feel you and I understand you. At times you feel good about yourself and you’re happy. Then you feel alone not only at night but also throughout the day. You wake up in the morning feeling confident your day will go great but minutes later, as you walk into school, something always triggers you. You grow quiet with a serious look on your face which makes people ask what’s wrong. You respond with, “Nothing, I’m good.” You know they are only looking out for you and making sure you’re okay but somehow it only makes you feel more angry and unhappy.

There are days when you’re so happy you think about the things you are grateful for, but the next day you feel drained again. You don’t know why you feel depressed, you just know that you keep feeling this way almost everyday of the week and you can’t do anything to stop it. Even when you know your life is fine, you still try to figure out why you randomly feel depressed and full of anger. Although sometimes there is a reason that causes you to feel that way. You can’t control your frustration even when you take deep breaths to calm yourself down. It doesn’t always work but it’s worth doing. You observe the people around you and ask yourself if they feel this way too.

Everything you’ve read so far, I relate to. I wonder if the person reading this also feels this way. If you do, always know that you’re okay. If you don’t feel this way then it’s cool, not everyone is the same. You’re probably confused too but no worries.

I was in Stevenson Middle School, on my way to Roosevelt High School when I started to realize a lot more about myself and the world around me. This is when I started to see people’s true colors and the way they change. I had a group of friends in middle school who I thought, at the time, were the kind who wouldn’t stab you in the back. From time to time, one person would come to me talking smack about the other

person and that person would come to me talking smack about someone else. If you knew me in middle school you’d know I’m one of the chillest people ever. I was always laid back, minding my own business. There were a few females who didn’t like me for the dumbest reason. I didn’t care though. Like I said, I was a chill person. I pretty much got along with everybody and I was always there for people.

Little by little I would notice these “friends” wouldn’t even act like friends. They always gave me reasons not to trust them. They were the type of people to talk negatively about each other but still hang out together. They were all about drama and they were so immature, I hated it! What messed me up was that I would still hang out with them even though I was never like them. I knew I was different, I don’t judge people. I’d get so irritated when people would tell each other’s business to someone else. This is why I stay to myself and not depend on anyone because I know how dirty they could get.

When I started to separate myself from people I realized I was alone and no one understood me. I told myself I didn’t need anyone, it was just me against the world. That’s when I started to experience sadness and anger weighing heavily on my chest and my anxiety started to rise. That’s where I started to think a lot about my family, school, and the toxins in Boyle Heights. As I got older I came to realize there aren’t a lot of good people here. I’m well aware that people will do anything to see you in pain just to make themselves feel satisfied.

Always remember you have the power to make changes in society but first, start the change within yourself. I hope they are good changes where people aren’t afraid to open up and trust others around them. I know in every issue you face, something good will always come around in the end and you will become stronger. I know you will overcome any struggle. I know you will be happy, only if you just wait. Wait and let time work for you.

IT WAS ALL A DREAM!!

FRANCISCO Z.

My dream is to make all my mom’s wishes come true. She’s a hardworking, determined woman. When my brother and I were younger and we would want something, my mom was always determined to buy it for us because she always wanted to make us happy. My mom worked from morning to night, playing the role of both Mom and Dad.

“No love for my daddy because the coward wasn’t there. You’re trying to raise two bad kids on your own.”

“And she loves to show me off, of course. Smiles every time my face up in The Source.”

My mom was always happy with me. She would pick me up from school, she would pass through the hallway and see my face on the wall for Student of the Month.

“Livin’ life without fear, puttin’ five carats in my baby girl’s ear.”

One day I will deliver your big house on the beach.

“Damn right I like the life I live because it went from negative to positive and it’s all good.”

ABOUT 826LA

TUTORING

From Monday to Thursday, students attend 826LA for free individual tutoring in all subjects. Once homework is completed, students read books from 826LA’s library and write stories based on a monthly theme. Students submit their writing for inclusion in chapbooks, which 826LA publishes throughout the year. To celebrate students’ hard work, 826LA unveils these chapbooks at book release parties, where students read their work to thunderous applause from their volunteers, families, and peers.

IN-SCHOOL SUPPORT

Because not all students can come to us, 826LA brings specially trained volunteer tutors into under-resourced public schools. There, volunteers provide one-on-one or small group assistance with writing projects. 826LA works with teachers to craft all projects, which are designed to engage students while targeting curricular issues. In addition to visiting twenty schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District each year, 826LA has a third site within Manual Arts High School, called The Writers’ Room, located in South Los Angeles.

WORKSHOPS

826LA’s workshops bring students together with artists, writers, and professionals for creative collaboration. Whether the subject is journalism or preparing for the zombie apocalypse, our workshops foster creativity while strengthening writing skills. This includes two long running workshops, our reading development workshop Barnacle’s Bookworms, and our Journalism workshop.

FIELD TRIPS

During the week, 826LA invites public school teachers and their students to our writing labs to participate in a morning of collaboration, creativity, and writing. Whether Storytelling & Bookmaking, Choose Your Own Adventure, Memoir, or Personal Statements, field trips at 826LA support teacher curriculum and student learning by offering a safe space for students to be their most imaginative and to work on their writing skills. In a few short hours, students brainstorm, write, edit their work, and leave with something tangible—a bound book or a revised essay—as well as a renewed confidence in their ability to tell their stories.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY BOARD

Jodie Evans

Henry Chase

Susan Ko

Matthew Cherniss

Dave Eggers, Emeritus

Terena Thyne Eisner

Scott A. Ginsburg

Rebecca Goldman

Claire Hoffman

Christine Jaroush

Louis Lucido

Krystyn Madrigal

STAFF

JOEL ARQUILLOS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MARISA URRUTIA GEDNEY

DIRECTOR OF IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS & COLLEGE ACCESS

BEATRIZ GARCIA

PROGRAMS MANAGER MAR VISTA

LAUREN HUMPHREY

INSTITUTIONAL GIVING MANAGER

CHERYL KLEIN DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

MARIESA ARRAÑAGA KUBASEK

VOLUNTEER MANAGER, ECHO PARK

SHAWN SILVER EVENTS MANAGER

MIRANDA TSANG

PROGRAMS MANAGER ECHO PARK

J.J. Abrams

Judd Apatow

Miguel Arteta

Mac Barnett

Steve Barr

Joshuah Bearman

Amy Brooks

Father Greg Boyle, SJ

Stefan G. Bucher

Mark Flanagan

Ben Goldhirsh

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein

DeAnna Gravillis

Spike Jonze

Miranda July

Catherine Keener

Keith Knight

Al Madrigal

RACHEL MENDELSOHN DESIGNER

LATESHA ADOLPHUS

IN-SCHOOLS

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

MIKE DUNBAR

PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, MAR VISTA

ALEJANDRA CASTILLO

PROGRAM COORDINATOR, MAR VISTA

PEDRO ESTRADA

PROGRAM COORDINATOR, ECHO PARK

REBECCA ESCOTO

PROGRAM COORDINATOR, MAR VISTA

CARINNE MANGOLD

TIME TRAVEL MART

STORE COORDINATOR

Tara Roth

Katie McGrath

R. Scott Mitchell

Lani Monos

B.J. Novak

Miwa Okumura

Jane Patterson

Keri Putnam

Sylvie Rabineau

Sonja Rasula

Luis J. Rodriguez

Terri Hernandez Rosales

Brad Simpson

J. Ryan Stradal

Natalie Tran

Sarah Vowell

Sally Willcox

JENNIE NAJARRO

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, MAR VISTA

KENNY NG

PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, ECHO PARK

EMMANUEL PORTILLO

PROGRAMS COORDINATOR, ECHO PARK

T SARMINA

WRITERS’ ROOM COORDINATOR AT MANUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL

AMERICORPS VISTA MEMBERS

CHARISSA NG COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING ASSISTANT

HELEN LIM

VOLUNTEER TRAINING & RETENTION COORDINATOR

NICOLIEN BUHOLZER

TUTORING SUPPORT COORDINATOR