The gentrification of the Mission District brought a "gang list" that affected young people in a 60-block radius, limiting their freedom of movement and association. Vicente Garcia used his 2007 Young People For fellowship to organize the community to stop the gang list.
Featured Fellows: Vicente Garcia and Alex Hill
At this year’s National Summit, several YP4 senior fellows will share their experiences with the new fellows by leading workshops. Here are two of them!
[asset|aid=1082|format=image|formatter=asset|title=vicente_garcia_120x200.jpg|width=120|height=200|align=left|resizable=true]Vicente Garcia, a Bay Area native and 2007 fellow, graduated from San Francisco State University in December with a degree in La Raza Studies. Vicente’s experiences at Macalester College and in California informed his passion for social justice. He soon followed his interests to People For the American Way Foundation and several other nonprofit organizations. He served on YP4’s 2007–2008 steering committee.
[asset|aid=1083|format=image|formatter=asset|title=alex_120x200.jpg|width=120|height=200|align=right|resizable=true]Alex Hill, also a 2007 fellow, has focused on healthcare for underdeveloped parts of Africa. He says that his YP4 fellowship helped him take a “huge step” to launch his own nonprofit organization, SCOUT BANANA, which gained 501(c)3 nonprofit status in November. Alex, an international relations and global area studies major at Michigan State University, also served on the steering committee from 2007–2008.
» Nominate a college student leader for the YP4 fellowship today.Interview by Elisabeth Wilhelm, fall 2008 communications intern, for January 2009.
What do you stand for?
VICENTE: I stand for decolonization. We all need to decolonize our minds and the way we live. That means living sustainably.
ALEX: I stand for people, related to what things people need and for things people face.
You’ve been with YP4 for several years. Have you noticed any changes in it and/or the young progressive movement at large?
VICENTE: It’s grown a lot. Now it’s been five years, but they have grown to be a big network. They have hundreds of fellows and hundreds of people connected to the network all over the country. It’s also grown to reflect a newer generation of activists and thinkers. I think that young people bring more issues to the table. Last Summit, we [began having] gender neutral bathrooms and making the conference more [environmentally] sustainable.
ALEX: From year to year, [fellows] get more dynamic and engaged. I think YP4 has become what it was envisioned to be. Beyond the mainstream, there are a lot more young people working in their communities for change.
How have the resources and training you’ve received through YP4 helped you?
VICENTE: I feel very indebted to YP4—they’ve helped me a lot. The conference is a starting point to get you to something bigger. Afterwards, YP4 can help you with networking ands professional growth. It’s [...] helped me get jobs in the past.
ALEX: The initial Blueprint was a huge step for supporting the youth organization I run. It provided training for members of SCOUT BANANA. Just continued involvement in YP4 has opened a lot of doors and provided a lot of connections and resources. This summer, I completed the internship program, which was a huge help.
Tell me about a moment in your experience with YP4 that really stands out to you.
VICENTE: When I was a trainer for the last Summit, I saw the power of my own voice and being a mentor to other people, [particularly] the California group and a few other people that mixed in from other states. The group called itself Si Se Puede, which means “Yes, it can be done.” Everybody got excited about it.
ALEX: The end of my fellowship year, the end of that Summit I remember being extremely powerful. I remember the extreme energy of everyone at the Summit and all the dreams and plans they wanted to put into action.
What did you wish you had known before you became a fellow? What advice do you have to offer the class of 2009?
VICENTE: I didn’t know it would be so tight! [The Summit] became this amazing good thing. It was fun, exciting, and energetic. It wasn’t a stuffy old conference where people just talk at you. I didn’t expect it to be a lot of fun. Take every moment to reflect on what you’re learning at the conference.
ALEX: It’s going to be a dynamic group of people, but young people in general need to realize that if they have an idea, and a plan on how to achieve it, there should be no reason not to try it. A lot of people are held back. The fellows who could have previously been held back get the resources and training at the Summit to help their dreams and plans.
Why did you decide to be a trainer at the Summit? What are you looking forward to?
VICENTE: This time I’ll be doing it by myself and I’m excited. I’m excited to train the next generation of folks, see where they are at, and work with them.
ALEX: I really enjoy being able to share and spread knowledge with others. Because [I’ve been] involved in YP4 from my initial Summit year and then the steering committee the next year, I wanted to be involved in empowering young people for change.
What's next for you?
VICENTE: I have to do a lot of thinking and reflection to do.
ALEX: I’m not sure. (laughs) I’m graduating in May and so I’m really not sure what I’m going to do, but I’ve been looking into the Leadership Academy at YP4 or getting involved in another community organization.
» Nominate a college student leader for the YP4 fellowship today.