Resident Voices: Creating Change

Mestizo Arts & Activism and the Student Persistence Partnership

By Joél Arvizo

The mission of connecting the work and leadership of residents to higher education becomes evident within the Mestizo Arts & Activism collective and the Student Persistence Partnership. As high school students have gained access to a college or university, their connections to their communities doesn’t diminish but in fact becomes stronger. For community leaders such as Alonso Reyna and José Hernandez, their activism within the community started long before their involvement with any of the UNP-connected partnerships. For both of these leaders, their focus has been on making sure that all students have access to information about college and that all students are able to figure out ways in which they (through understanding their unique life experiences and circumstances) can get access to a college education.

Through community-based blogs, community relationship building, and meeting one-on-one with students and residents of the community, Alonso and José are thinking of new and innovative ways in which to ensure that the first step to a higher education – access to critical information – is achieved in an equitable and inclusive manner. Educaté (www.educatexcambio.weebly.com) is one of the many projects that has emerged from their leadership, and it has been their connection to people that ensures continual support of their important work. For both Alonso and José, they do the work that they do because “we’re in their situation” (the life experiences of youth and residents) and if it weren’t for the people that are doing the stuff that they are doing we wouldn’t be here doing what we are doing either (sharing information and resources about college with the community). They expressed that, “It’s kind of like a circle where you go through that process and you have people there to help you and guide you through the way. Each of us has had somebody there that has helped us – we had to look for that person – and people have helped us apply for college and encourage us to do it.”

The Real Deal Partnership

By Alma Yanagui

The Real Deal partnership at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education (SLCSE) was created with the focus of providing space for students within the school-site to share knowledge and ideas as a way of incorporating positive impact and change. The partnership brings together students of SLCSE and their families along with U of U student interns by engaging in conversations of difficult issues identified by SLCSE students. The partnership has provided students with the space of taking on leadership roles within the school to meet their goals of positive impact and change.

Maria Lourdes Barajas, a parent at SLCSE, says, “As a parent I feel that we have the responsibility of finding ways to maintain a good and open communication with our children. At the beginning of the first year, one of my daughters was very shy and not very interested in participating in any school-related activities. In the last few months her self-esteem and motivation towards school has improved. I believe that if we can provide space for youth to be creative and share ideas, it can truly make a positive impact for the youth.”

Francisco Yanagui, a student at SLCSE, is an 8th grader who has taken the role of inviting students and motivating others to be a part of the Real Deal. Francisco shares how he unknowingly became motivated to invite other students and friends to check out what the Real Deal had to offer. “I think in the beginning the fact that my mother was taking the time to volunteer and attend meetings at my school, just to find out how I was doing in school, made me feel important. But now to see my friends in the hallway and have them ask me when the next meeting is and what time, makes me know that I’m important and sharing my thoughts and ideas is what I feel makes me important. My voice is being heard. I can make a difference when I am involved!”

Utah Tongan Tennis Club

By Kim Schmit

Since 1979, Ifa Motuliki has lived in the Glendale neighborhood. Inspired by his grandchildren, he often found himself wondering how to create an outlet for youth in his community. Ifa knew firsthand the community’s goals for their children, as well as their strength in gathering around a common vision. In 2008, Ifa approached his Jordan Park tennis partners with an idea…Why not expand their informal tennis gatherings beyond their small group of friends and create a tennis program for youth and their families.

Through persistent efforts he moved city government and private donors to rebuild eight tennis courts at Glendale Park. In 2009, Ifa received non-profit status for the Utah Tongan Tennis Club (UTTC), which kicked off its summer program with a block party that brought together over 300 people.

In Ifa’s second summer as UTTC’s president he has clear goals for the program.: “When I started this everyone thought it was for the Tongan community only. But it is for all people. I want different nationalities to come together and mingle in unity. This is how you build community. My other main goal is education. I want the kids to have options and to go to school.”

At the core of this vision is coach Lave Toli. A Tongan-born tennis pro and seasoned international teacher, he came to Utah so his children could have greater access to higher education. Working with UTTC allows Toli to coach 90 youth each week, combining his passion for education with his love of tennis.

In the spring of 2010, UNP board member Alama Uluave approached UNP with ideas about how it might assist the club in reaching its goal of using tennis as a platform for providing access to higher education. The result is a partnership designed by parents, leaders, and Sana Muller, a community and University staff member, who wants to see UTTC utilize available resources and grow towards its full potential.