Honoring the Leadership and Legacy of LA Youth

Urban Peace Institute is a coordinating member of the Los Angeles Youth Uprising Coalition (LAYUP). Since 2016, LAYUP has led campaigns to dismantle LA County’s juvenile justice system and shift resources to the Youth Justice Reimagined initiative. Read on to learn about the Coalition's most recent efforts to #FreeOurFuture!

YOUTH LEADERSHIP & LIBERATION FELLOWSHIP

The Leadership and Liberation Fellowship is an intergenerational learning and co-creation space hosted by LAYUP, the Arts for Healing & Justice Network, and Green Arrow Co-Lab. The Fellowship's intention is to build community, trust, and power to “radically reimagine what a new system could look like,” through political education, healing practices, and guided skill development. In the Leadership & Liberation Fellowship, system-impacted and previously incarcerated young people have a chance to connect with adult mentors to collaborate and lead the LA Youth Uprising justice movement.

Urban Peace Institute joins our LAYUP partners in honoring the life of Irving Alvarez, a youth fellow who passed away earlier this month. LAYUP's Youth Leadership Coordinator shares the following excerpt: 

A few words could not encapsulate the impact Irving Alvarez had on the Youth Justice community. I had the opportunity, and tremendous privilege, to work with Irving over these past few months as his femtor in the Leadership & Liberation Fellowship. Not only did he contribute tremendous wisdom and innovation in each conversation, but he also showed deep consideration and care for his family and community. I reflect on our conversations and remember his determination to continue the work. He was adamant on building, creating, and reimagining. He wanted to see his people find stability, success, and happiness. He was a connector, in political theory and in life. It’s difficult to describe Irving and his impact in the past tense - as his dreams, visions and voice live on.

Many have known, loved and worked with Irving for years. I and the LAYUP team extend our love to everyone who was impacted by him. May we honor Irving and those we have lost with each effort made in our movement. - Sie Romero

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY

Last Thursday, Urban Peace Institute's Smart Justice team showed up alongside LAYUP in solidarity with the mother of Bryan Diaz, a young person who tragically died in the care of LA County's Probation Department in May. Marlen Medina spoke up at the Probation Oversight Committee meeting about the lack of transparency and humanity the Department has demonstrated in navigating his death. 

Urban Peace Institute and LAYUP are strong in our commitment to support youth and families harmed by the carceral system, and will continue calling on the County to invest in a new vision of care that protects, heals, and empowers our young people.

Interested in learning more? RSVP for LAYUP's next Coalition Meeting on December 7th at UPI's main office in Echo Park.