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Herndon, Virginia - Youth Empowerment Program
| Meet The 2010 Y. E. P. Team from Herndon, Virginia | Click here to support us! |
| Bridgett Martinez Age: 15 Birth Place: Fairfax, Virginia Who is your Hero? Why? : My hero is Anne Frank because during World War II Anne was never negative and was always full of hope. She had that charisma to keep life going on, even though she was held captive in such a small area. She always had faith, believed the impossible, and always kept smiling for anything that came her way. Unique Quality: I love making people smile to keep them happy if any bad situations come at them. I like to keep people laughing. I try to make them believe they are good for anything. Why do you love fighting for other people: I love fighting because people’s voices need to be heard. I believe we all deserve equality, and we should stand up for what we believe regardless of how much opposition comes our way from other people or circumstances. Why are you in YEP?: I want to be a change for something, I want to make history. I actually want to make myself useful for something and find purpose for the good of humanity. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: Dealing with people’s prejudices has got to be my biggest challenge. A long time ago I would let what people thought of me affect me in very negative ways. But that affects me no longer. I know my own self, I know what I can do, and I know my worth. Whatever people could think of me, they can just swallow their words. I am my own. |
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| Carlos BIGBOY Zuniga Age: 15 Birth Place: Herndon, VA Who is your Hero? Why? : My hero is Bob Marley because he was a big visionary and his music was just so inspiring. Most people just think of him as a pothead that makes good music but he is really a hero. He got shot one day and then the next day he was up and singing at a concert for peace. He tried so hard to unite Africa and to stop the wars and terrorism that took too many lives. Unique Quality: My unique quality is that I am a very talented poet and martial artist I use these quality for my fight for peace. I write poems to let my friends know that we need to stop with ridiculous negative actions that young people commit. We need to understand and be educated that what we are doing is killing our community and society. I use the martial arts meditation to focus on what we truly need to fix in our world. I also hope one day I can have a Mixed Martial Artist tournament where the earnings go to non-profit organizations that have the peace dream like I do. Why do you love fighting for other people?: I love fighting for others. I fight for the people that don’t get this chance that I have to talk to congressmen about our struggles. I can do things that other’s can’t do because they are either scared or too busy taking care of there families. I enjoy fighting for other people because I’m their voice, I let big time people know about the struggling family with like 7 kids and only 1 parent, or families being affected by poverty or youth being affected by violence. Why are you in YEP?: I’m joining YEP because it helps me a lot in becoming something different in my community and not just another statistic in violence. I want to be the person that many struggling teenagers will come to for help when no one is there for them. I also don’t want the next generation to do what I did as a young kid because I was misguided. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: My biggest struggle was to be something different, not the same old drop out gang banger teenage father. I was challenged by my parents and family to do better and graduate high school and go to college. Now I’m a sophomore working hard on graduating with an advanced studies diploma. I overcame that challenge with the help of Juan Pacheco and my 7th grade English teacher Ms. Rapp. They helped me by pushing me light year past my limit. For that I will always thank them. =) |
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| Carolina Diaz Age: 14 Birth Place: Culmore, Virginia Who is your Hero? Why? : My Hero Is My Mother. My Mom is my Hero Because She is a very important woman in my life. Whenever I’ve needed someone she’s always been there for me and I know she always will. My mom is a Strong, Independent, Wonderful woman and one day I hope to be exactly like her. Unique Quality: I am very organized and I know what I want for me and my daughter’s life. I choose my goals for the future very wisely because of her. Why do you love fighting for other people?: If I was the one other people would be fighting for , I would be very grateful and I feel like it’s my duty to fight for other people. I like the idea of peace in my community and all the other communities in the nation. Why are you in YEP?: I became apart of Y.E.P because I saw it as a very interesting oppurtunity to help out my community. It think it is an important component for the the peace movement which is a very big part of my life. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: My biggest challenege was becoming a mother so young and maturing as fast as I did. I can say that I survived and still am. Sometimes it’s a srtuggle but I live day by day and thankful for everyday my daughter and I live. |
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| Chico Antonio Vasquez Age: 16 Birth Place: Los Angeles, California Who is your Hero? Why? : My hero is Jesus, because I believe that he’s Gods son and because his teachings have saved lives. He has helped people with their troubles andd helps people bring Joy and Love into their lives. I have not had the chance to meet some one who has done what he did Unique Quality: I think I am smart and been blessed with the ability to hear people out when they need me to. I’m loving and some times funny. People think I look like George Lopez but I don’t think so. Why do you love fighting for other people?: I do it because if I don’t then no one else is going to do it. Not that long ago I heard an older man who came to our school and talked to us and he said that he heard this from a pastor in Germany. He said “ One day they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak out. Then they came for the city and I didn’t speak out. They came for the women and children and I didn’t speak out and now they came for me and there is no one left to speak out for me. So speak out .” Why are you in YEP?: Im doing YEP because I believe that im going to change things in our neighborhoods. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: I say that every day use to be a challenge for me. I used to worry and think that when I step out I might get shot or something. Worryed that they might come for my family one day. Now I found Jesus and he showed me that I wouldn’t have to worry anymore because hes going to protect me and he did it…that’s why im still here. |
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| Giovannie A. Fabrega Age: 17 Birth Place: Annandale, Virginia Who is your Hero? Why? : When I was young I never felt I had anyone to look up to or anyone to idolize. But slowly through the process of life, I began to idolize my two cousins, Kevin Sanchez and Julie Sanchez. They taught me so much, and they still constantly teach me lessons every day. I feel that if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be the man I am today. I constantly thank them for everything they have done for me. I admire their triumphs and learn from their faults. Unique Quality: I see myself as a fun and interesting person that can also be serious and compassionate. I love having fun and doing extreme things that give me an adrenaline rush. I live my life this way because I’ve learned to enjoy every second in my life as if it was my last. I believe that my qualities are the frame for the kind of person I am, and that my actions are what defines me. Why do you love fighting for other people? I love fighting for others because I know that they must be protected until they feel like they found their own voice. I fight for the people out there that are in need for someone to reach out and help them. I believe if we do not fight for those who need it for the future, we will not have a future. By fighting for other people, we are allowing them to do the same for the generations to come. Why are you in YEP? YEP has taught me to be a strong and influential leader. I have learned many lessons from my mentor Juan and the other group members. I use the skills I’ve learned from the group to help other youth and adults in my community. I feel that the lessons I learn are essential, and everyone can benefit from them. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: My life has been a big challenge, but every day of it brings little challenges that affect me. Each one I overcome, I learn how to avoid it from happening again, and also with the experience, and I can help others going through the issues I have been in through. |
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| Herson Bautista Age: 20 Birth Place: Washington, D.C. Who is your Hero? Why? : My hero is my mother Bertha. She’s my hero because of the struggle and obstacles she overcame throughout her life. Unique Quality: I am a house made barber. I learned to cut hair on my own with a pair of my dad’s clippers. Why do you love fighting for other people?: I LOVE fighting for other people because I get a sense of moral satisfaction. My conscious is calm knowing that I’m the “fuerza” or strength of many people and the voice of the silent. Why are you in YEP?: I am in YEP because I believe that every opportunity to grow as a youth organizing should be taken, and I’m using the wisdom consumed in YEP to spread to more youth. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: My biggest challenge is to make sure my son doesn’t make the same mistakes as I did and I’ll know I have survived when my son grows up to be an outstanding leader in his life. |
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| Kaili Pacheco Age: 14 Birth Place: Culmore, VA Who is your Hero? Why? : Juan Pacheco has his moments but still is a great person and a great uncle : ). I know he will become a great insperation to many people and has been an insperation to me. Unique Quality: A unique quality that I have is probably that I am great at painting I’m very good at expressing what I feel in my paintings, and I just love to paint and draw. Why do you love fighting for other people?: I love fighting for other people because I feel the right and the need to fight for them to let their voices matter and to let their voice make a difference. Why are you in YEP?: I took part in the Youth Empowerment Program because I saw it as a good opportunity to reach out to my community and help kids my age with the same struggles I had to pass through and just help out those voices that have not yet been heard. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: My biggest challenge has been the seperation of my parents and I have still not survived it completely but im working on the healing progress. |
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| Kevin Antonio Castillo Age: 16 Birth Place: Fairfax, VA Who is your Hero? Why? : My hero is my teacher, Cheryl Martin, because I owe her so much for believing in me and always helping me move on and changing me in my life Unique Quality: I am very romantic and I love writing very deep emotional stuff like about love, life, and beauty. Why do you love fighting for other people?: Because sometimes people do not have a voive to speak up and say "No! thats not fair" and we need people to speak up for them Why are you in YEP?: I am in YEP because I believe that our youth have so much potential and have a strong voice to change the world and their community What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: To forget my past and who I hurted and caused so much pain. I have survived by changing who I was into who I am. |
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| Manuel Pineda Age: 18 Birth Place: El Salvador Who is your Hero? Why? : My hero is my grandma because she took care of me since I was born. Unique Quality: I am very smart, a full time student and I’m planning to go to college Why do you love fighting for other people?: I love fighting for people because I think all people have equal rights. Why are you in YEP?: I am in YEP because I believe that every one can work together to grow a great community. What is your biggest challenge and how have you survived?: My biggest challenge is to finish school and go to college. I survived by keeping up my grades in school. |
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Ambar Pinto I found out about the Youth Empowerment Project by one of my mentors. When she told me about it, she didn’t have a basis of what the program was about. However I went to the first meeting whit no knowledge about what it was going to be about. As the days pass and the meetings were, I became interested in making a change in my community. This program offers me and the rest of the group a unique experience to develop leadership skills and at the same time practice team work which is something that has to be used daily in the real world. The commitment that this phenomenal project requires is very important and easy for me to commit to since it would not be the first program that I have a responsibility with. Keeping engaged to this program is a key point, and I plan to do that by attending all the meeting if possible, at the same time creating a safe relationship with the group member and asking for information whenever I miss a meeting. This program offers me new things to learn for life and the only thing I can give in exchange is my commitment and my time.
Click this link for general information about the Youth Empowerment Project |
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