Community Connections: Meet Lesly D.

What object connects you to your community? We asked this question to the Youth Voices students at South El Monte High School at the end of our first meeting, and requested that they bring this object to our next class. These objects, along with their explanations, offer physical evidence of the personal link the students have with their neighborhood, and served as their point of departure for their Youth Voices Project: their experience, memories, and personal understanding of their community. To see more of the students' work click HERE or use #kcetyv on Twitter and Instagram.
My name is Lesley D., I'm a Junior at South El Monte High School -- our high school is the smallest in the district but a huge school spirit and everyone is comfortable with each other. I feel proud of our school because the majority of our graduates and go onto college and become successful. The most important thing to know about me is that I follow the worlds of Jesus Christ and a proud Christian. My faith is an important quality to share because, I want people to know he's restored my family and he fuels me with hope. My life before Christ was dark where I contemplated suicide because my heart was bitter and had no compassion for anyone. Being a former atheist I want people to know that God is real and if God changed my life.

The object that connects to my community is my Los Angeles County library card because, I get to interact with the people within my community. I also meet new people every week I go simply by owning a library card it automatically connects me to my neighborhood.