“When youth are given space to share their stories and be vulnerable, something magical happens. They show kindness, compassion, and find healing.” - CERI Youth Department Staff Member

Dear CERI Family,

This summer has been nothing short of magical. We watched our youth not only grow but thrive in ways that touched all our hearts. With 14 youth leaders and 24 participants, our 5-week summer program turned out to be a journey of uplifting, healing, and community. We have always known that our youth are strong, resilient, and full of potential, but the way they embraced this program - leading projects, sharing personal stories, and uplifting one another - truly amazed us.

Our mission is simple: Uplift youth and transitional age youth (TAY) from refugee and immigrant communities, give them the space and support they need, and watch them shine. And shine they did.

This summer, our youth program focused on leadership training, including workshops; field trips; creative projects; and a youth-led research project gathering data to better understand how generational trauma affects substance use and wellness.

Our young leaders explored their identities and shared their powerful stories, some of which carried deep pain and trauma. They created an incredible zine that highlighted their experiences with substance use, harm reduction, and what it means to be a descendant of refugees and immigrants. Through art, poetry, and photography, they poured their hearts out.

One youth who completed our research project survey bravely shared:

“I think advice could include allowing members who use substances to have an outlet to express their emotions and motives instead of blaming them for being irresponsible.”

Another shared:

“There are not a lot of people that can change the past and sometimes people don't change. So all we can do is help the future by spreading awareness and teaching the new generation to do the right thing.”

These remarkable young people didn’t just share their stories, they turned them into a catalyst for change. They organized and led a powerful 4-hour Breaking Barriers Symposium at Clinton Park in Oakland, reaching over 80 community members with powerful messages about substance use, displacement, and trauma. As part of their efforts, they distributed safety kits containing Narcan - an emergency medication that reverses opioid overdoses - along with other vital resources to protect and support the community. It was a day filled with cultural performances, a fashion show, bake and cotton candy sale, games, and laughter. It wasn’t just about raising awareness, it was about healing together.

But this is just the beginning. Our youth aren’t done yet. They will continue to collect data and work on proposals for policy changes that could help our communities for years to come. Here’s how you can support them:

1. Share their research project (https://bit.ly/CERIYouthResearchProject) and zine (https://bit.ly/CERIYOUTHZINE2024 ) to help spread their stories and gather more insights.

2. Donate to CERI’s youth programs so we can continue providing the resources, space, and support our youth need to thrive.

3. Spread the Word about what our youth are doing and encourage others to get involved.

None of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of our youth, our staff, mentors, community members who cooked for us, volunteers, and partners. We are so deeply grateful to every person who played a part in this summer’s success - from the mentors who guided our youth with love and patience to the community members who donated time, money, and resources to make it all happen. A special thank you to The Sierra Health Foundation, Elevate Youth California (EYC), The California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), PROP64 Youth Community Access Program, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), and Asian Law Caucus for their unwavering support.

To our youth: You are our inspiration. You have shared your strength, vulnerability, and passion, and we couldn’t be prouder of everything you have achieved. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes you next.

With love and gratitude,

The CERI Youth Team