Neighborhood News Project
Tower of Youth is dedicated to providing support and opportunities for youth to increase their knowledge and understanding of issues in their communities, build and expand critical thinking and writing skills to analyze the root cause of community problems and build individual and community power. In partnership with Access Sacramento, we strive to build our Neighborhood Youth Reporters with the skills and leadership to raise the visibility of youth voices locally and statewide.
Sacramento Pride’s 2023 Festival
By Bella Richmond, Intern, Met Sacramento High School
June is here and it brought Pride with it once again! On June 10 and 11, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center threw its annual Pride celebration along the Capitol Mall. To uphold my own Pride tradition, I interviewed representatives from five different nonprofits and community organizations that had booths at Sacramento Pride. Over the last year, our country has seen a slew of attempts to ban or restrict gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ youth and even attempts, though some failed, to ban drag performance. Visibility and community is more important than ever.
The first organization I stopped at was Stop Stigma Sacramento, a program developed and funded by the Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services. Stop Stigma Sacramento works to combat false perceptions and to provide support and education around mental illness. “There is a lot of overlap between the LGBTQ+ people and those that struggle with mental illness,” said Laura, one of their representatives at Pride. All of the discrimination towards LGBTQ+ identities and the prejudice people face often contributes to struggles with mental health.
Next, I spoke with representatives from PFLAG Sacramento, an advocacy, education, and support organization with national and local influence. PFLAG Sacramento sponsors local LGBTQ+ events and holds support groups throughout the Sacramento region. When asked about the value of attending Pride and related events, a board member expressed the importance of showing up for the community, commenting, “especially this year.” The energy was palpable; right now we need to stay strong.
The Sacramento Children’s Home had a booth at Pride 2023 as well. This organization has a variety of programs. They do so much for the Sacramento region, from supporting foster youth to providing medical care to young children. It is always good to see such an established program dedicate itself to acting as a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth.
I also got to speak with a member of the rivercityGEMS, a social group for transgender women and people in transition. The goal of this program is to help people feel comfortable enough to be themselves. They provide a safe space for an older demographic to explore their gender expression. A member of the rivercityGEMS explained how people came from all over just for the chance to be listened to and heard. Pride has not always been a celebration or a festival, but it has always been brought about by community participation.
I went on June 10, and in the afternoon there was a moment of some surprise for many of us California natives. It began to rain, despite the weather forecast of about a 30% chance of precipitation. The drizzle did not last long and luckily didn’t postpone any of the musical performances. Still, I’d like to think there is something special in that anecdote. It might get cloudy sometimes, but it will clear in time for the LGBTQ+ community to throw a truly splendid parade.
I’m Not The First
By Bella Richmond, Intern, Met Sacramento High School
In the last few years, attitudes toward youth mental health have changed radically. This shift in social perceptions is in part because the coronavirus pandemic brought young people to the forefront of public consciousness. The pandemic pushed me to get treatment for my anxiety and made me aware of the social and emotional struggles of other high schoolers. The research and advocacy I started during the lockdown led me to I’m Not the First, which is a podcast I am creating to help young activists in the Sacramento area tell their stories. The introduction is up on SoundCloud. Each full episode will include an interview with a young person who is using their struggles for good, as well as an interview with a representative from a community organization that works to uplift the youth.
The lockdown removed me from my support system. To combat the isolation, I researched mental health services and reached out to counselors within my school district. After compiling that information, I surveyed my school’s students on their ability to access support. They did not know about the resources available. When in-person learning resumed, I published interviews with students and educators to assess the lasting impact of COVID-19 on accesslocal.TV. Upperclassmen were reeling, and teachers had their hands full helping younger students catch up. After my articles, I was invited to present my work to members of the Family Court Services (FCS) division in the California State Judiciary. They wanted to hear a young person’s perspective on the social impact of the coronavirus on my generation, and I was amazed by the outpouring of support from these professional advocates.
I want I’m Not the First to serve as a resource for young people who want to get involved in their community or who are unsure of where to start in getting mental health support. The greater Sacramento area is filled with nonprofits and local organizations that work with youth on the intersection of all different identities. The problem is connecting young people to the right service for them. In each episode, I will provide a platform for organizations working with young people on their social and emotional wellness. I’m Not the First will be a place where young people can share their stories and a tool for support organizations to reach an even wider audience.
I want to give young people who have embraced their identity and taken control of their happiness a space to express their experiences. Right now, the world is paying attention to youth voices, and it is vital that underrepresented groups are given space in the conversation. This project started during my tenth grade, and now I am preparing to graduate. There are always obstacles facing young people, and today’s younger generations had their formative years interrupted. The mission of I’m Not the First is to show that while these times may be unprecedented, none of us are going it alone.
