"Empowering Our Youth" was the theme of ALMA Chicago's 2nd annual Mobilizing our Youth Conference June 6 at Corazon Fuerza Youth Center in Cicero, Illinois. The event was among a number of United Latino Pride activities that took place throughout the week. About 60 people attended the evening's activities.
After words of welcome and introductions by Latino Soul, representatives from Corazon Fuerza Youth Center explained the services that they provide and urged everyone to come and participate in the center's activities and utilize the building's services which are free of charge.
Then Rosalva Nara from County Care at the Cook County Health and Hospitals Systems presented information on eligibility requirements for Illinois Medicaid and urged everyone to get health insurance.
A screening of the short film "Ojos Que No Ven/Eyes That Do Not See" ( an official selection at the 2014 Outfest Fusion LGBT People of Color Film Festival ) kicked off the evening's activities. The film centers around the conflict between Josephine, a queer 15-year-old first generation Salvadorian American, and her mother Margarita on the eve of Josephine's quinceanera. A skype Q&A with Janet Arelis Quezada, the executive producer of the movie, took place after the screening.
Two education sessions followed the screening: "Allies and the LGBTQ Community," moderated by Corazon Executive Director Mary E. Johnson and Corazon Health Educator Jose Enrique Vazquez; and "Community Organizing and Civic Engagement,"with ALMA's Advocacy Co-Chair Luis H. Roman-Garcia moderating.
The "Allies and the LGBTQ Community" session featured information on how allies can best help the LGBTQ community and the "Community Organizing and Civic Engagement" session featured strategies on how to effectively mobilize people around specific causes.
Following the education sessions, Janet Aqua Paradise Lopez showcased his unique dance moves and seven youth attendees faced off against each other in a dance contest.
See www.almachicago.org and www.unitedlatinopride.org for more information.
