The Anaheim Youth Justice Coalition officially kicks off on Saturday, April 23, 2016 12:30 PM- 1:30 PM as a youth driven effort to better the community through advocacy.
The event will be hosted at the steps of St. Anthony Claret, where hundreds of members of the community, the Anaheim BROS club with other high school groups, and several youth church groups will be represented.
The coalition is composed of AUHSD students, alumni and parents. They share the vision Alumni Elda Padila has for the coalition: “ The reason we started this coalition is to speak up for the youth in our community and let them know that we are here.”
Another student in the coalition, Bryan, says the purpose of AYJC is to,“Motivate other students and children to create change in their community because they are their future.”
The coalition will serve as a support system that acknowledges the importance of youth engagement. Youth are at the front lines of many of the issues going on in Anaheim and for this reason hold incomparable insight that should be heard. As one of the parents stated, “I want to be able to have a space for kids to feel like they are safe. To feel like they can go to someone. That they do have a voice & that they do count and they do matter.”
On Saturday the community will come together to hear AYJC’s goals and vision for the coalition and for the city of Anaheim. Come to learn about the positive message the coalition will be bringing how you can get involved.
About the Youth Coalition:
Mission Statement: The Anaheim Youth Justice Coalition is a youth-driven effort that empowers youth to strive for the betterment of their community and their own lives through the enrichment of their cultural pride and self value.
For months, youth from accross Anaheim have been gathering to organize a coalition that will empower youth accross the city to advocate for the representation of their communities.
The shared mission statement youth in high schols and youth groups in local parishes have written is as follows:
The Anaheim Youth Justice Coalition (AYJC) is a youth driven effort that empowers youth to strive for the betterment of their community & their own lives through the enrichment of their cultural pride and self-value.
– Please come out this Saturday to support youth accross the city! –
Poster making will be happening before the kick off around 11am on the side of the parish.
About the Orange County Congregation Community Organization:
Inspired by their faith, along with a deep commitment to social justice, Fathers John Baumann and Jerry Helfrich started an organization called PICO in Northern California that adopted a neighborhood organizing focus. After a few years, their model transformed from neighborhood to faith-based organizing, working with congregations.
PICO and its affiliates operate within a congregation-based model of organizing. Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO) is a faith-based community organization working to strengthen families and improve neighborhoods. We engage communities to shape public policy and build a legacy of leadership throughout Orange County.
Our vision is to organize communities where families thrive and people are empowered by their faith and knowledge, dedicated to seeking justice, and actively engaged in the civic process. In 1985, OCCCO became an affiliate of PICO. Before that, OCCCO was the Santa Ana Neighborhood Organization (SANO). OCCCO has been deeply rooted in Orange County for the past 30 years and is affiliated with PICO California and PICO National Network. We are a multi-faith and multicultural organization that champions immigrant rights and immigration integration, education policy, civic engagement, restorative justice, and homelessness policy in Orange County.
Quotes from youth:
Elda:
- “ The reason we started this coalition is to speak up for the youth in our community and let them know that we are here.”
- “ We can give them the resources that they may not receive in school or at home”..”because of their living situations”
- “Fulfil their potential” and “give them self worth”
Gwen:
- “AYJC is a place we can offer to so many kids and there might be a person stat is standing in the corner wondering if they should join or not. And that person may see one of us and find resemblance to us and think I can do it too, I know that and I can do it too.”
Bryan:
- “Motivate other students and children to create change in their community because they are their future and they have to know how to contribute to their society”
Ana (Youth Minister):
- “I want to be able to have a space for kids to feel like they are safe. To feel like they can go to someone. That they do have a voice & that they do count and they do matter.