Young students move from “yes we can” to “yes we could”

Thanks to the efforts of English teacher and JSA club advisor Kip Morales, and the tremendous commitment and leadership of the students, the chapter achieved this victory.

Looking for an organization that would give its students the opportunity to take on leadership roles, Morales discovered the JSA program.

This program gives young people the confidence to apply what they learn in the classroom and encourages them to make a real difference in their communities as well as at the state level.

“It’s extremely rewarding, but a little stressful because I have to guide them through the discomfort of going out and meeting people from different walks of life,” Morales said.

With over 400 chapters in 35 states and eight territories, the JSA is politically and civic oriented. Through conventions and debates, students seek innovative solutions to the problems facing the nation and thus make society a better place.

The JSA is made up of several sections, each based on an activity. JSA Girls is a group dedicated to empowering women. The Student Bill of Rights seeks to provide the tools every student needs to succeed in the classroom.

The journalistic group aims to cover various political issues. Finally, members are encouraged to volunteer and engage in civic action in their community and across the state.

Daisy Solis and Amber Montoya are two 12th graders who play key roles in the chapter.

Solis, who serves as regional vice mayor and director of advocacy, leads the campaign in the Los Angeles region.

It was through her role as a student campaign organizer for local elected officials that Solis was able to update outdated textbooks for the AP class exam.

Also, remember that they initially denied her request, but it was a bill passed in 2020 by the Alliance School Board that not only made it possible to provide new books, but also passed a student bill of rights that provides students with a fair education.

The young leader also managed to pass legislation to create a student research center to help students print for free.

“Printing something for a dollar can sometimes be a burden, so we wanted to make sure young people can do it. [sin costo alguno] and achieve academic success,” Solis said.

Likewise, the young Montoya, acting vice president and chief of staff, plans to add new groups next year, as well as expand others; In addition, he is proud that he was able to lead 16 different groups, each with 5 students, and hopes to return this year and do it again.

With the help of the JSA, both young women were able to acquire the necessary skills to succeed in the future, as in the case of Montoya, who overcame her fear of public speaking and even won two awards for being the best public speaker.

“Before I joined the JSA, I was very shy. I didn’t really know how to communicate with my teachers and it was difficult for me, but when I joined the program I was able to spread my wings. Have I developed this voice that I didn’t know about before? Montoya said.

Both experienced what it was like to be part of a political environment, which resulted in valuable connections with officials across the state and internships with Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer and Councilman Karren D. Bryce.

Through this internship, they were able to put into practice what they learned at the JSA and interact with other members of the community. It is your responsibility to keep your advisor informed about the current needs of the community and to help improve the city and county of the state.

Audrey Landeros, another student who has played a pivotal role as chapter president, graduated last June and was accepted to Yale with a full trip. Assigned to the public rights department, she works with new lawyer Heidi Feldstein Soto at City Hall. Another member is currently working with Jimmy Gomez, California’s 34th congressional district, as a social worker in his community.

Morales, who first introduced the JSA program eight years ago, recalls that initially only ten students participated in the program. Every year the number of students grew, last year 103 students out of 600 students joined the group.

By winning the national title, Morales hopes her students have learned that despite the differences they faced during the day, they were always capable of making it.

“Most of the students entering the competition come from backgrounds with great economic and social advantage, so they do not mix with many Hispanic students,” Morales said.

Both Solis and Montoya managed to highlight their Mexican and Salvadoran identities through conventions with cultural presentations in which they shared with other chapters. cracklingspopular street food made from fried wheat.

At the events, most of the attendees tasted this snack for the first time, and in doing so, Solis and Montoya were able to teach a very valuable lesson: to be proud of who they are and where they come from.

“We acquire something that is often not given to us, this is very significant. Even if we come from an economically disadvantaged place, this does not mean that we cannot. This does not mean that we are not as talented, smart, or that we are not who we are. This proves it even more,” Solis said.

In the future, Solis hopes to make the JSA more accessible to low-income students or students who do not have the financial backing to attend these conventions.

With the Washington DC conference approaching, he wants to make sure students can access these opportunities, especially since the cost can run into the hundreds of dollars and doesn’t include food or transportation.

Another of her goals is to develop the first regional website where she can plan events that bring people together and inspire in the same way that she admits the JSA inspired her and led her to find her passion for political science.

For Montoya, the biggest reward has been that his efforts have paid off, and he ultimately hopes to leave an indelible mark on future chapters.

Similarly, Morales shares how helpful it was when he remembers his grandfather’s dreams and aspirations when he immigrated to the United States from Sonora, Mexico.

“Look how my grandfather could, and my father and I, now my students can become a very complex part of this nation,” Morales explained.

“This nation needs Hispanics to step up and bring their culture and their voice. This goes back to a dream my grandfather had, and I have the same dreams as my students; that all Hispanics can go from yes we can to yes we can?