I’ve been passionate about justice since I was young; I always stand up for what is right. As a young person of color, I feel motivated to write and speak up whenever I see injustice in the world and media. I value the importance of educating people about these topics so that societies can address and overcome them. I joined the GroupChat for Change because of the opportunity to share and speak about the issues I care most about in our world and community. 

It wasn’t until I faced racism on my own that I became so adamant about social justice, specifically regarding issues in the Black community. Shortly after, the Black Lives Matter movement of 2020 pushed me to continue using my voice to advocate for what I supported, including anything that affects our youth today. In doing so, I’ve gained awareness of my privilege and have become passionate about ensuring that others know about theirs too. It’s important that recognize our privileges so that we’re able to educationally handle said issues.

Activist literature has moved me the most. Reading pieces by writers and poets like Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, and Bell Hooks pushes me to want to make the same impact, and I can confidently do so thanks to the GroupChat for Change. The opinions and work of today’s youth matter significantly, and our voices must be amplified. Through the magazine, I and other passionate writers can drive forward the shared values of the GroupChat. This is especially important now as we are in the midst of political and ideological separation.