MONTEBELLO – When Bell Gardens High School students returned to campus this month, they were greeted by a drought-tolerant garden and a video on Latino heritage meant to foster a more positive and tolerant outlook amongst students on campus.

Both are projects created by forty students who attended the first Rise Up for Humanity youth conference, held for 200 students to raise consciousness on societal issues and build a progressive youth network in Los Angeles County.

“It is truly inspiring to see how motivated these students are to create projects for their campus because of what they learned through this conference,” said Montebello Unified Board of Education Vice President Lani Cupchoy, Ph.D. “They are great representatives of what Montebello Unified stands for when it comes to standing up for social justice and creating positive outlets for recognizing these social issues.”

At the conference, students took part in various workshops that focused on topics related to homophobia, racism, media literacy, knowing your rights and more. Students also learned to change the narrative related to social justice issues through artistic tools such as video production, photography, song writing, poetry, writing, murals, gardening, cooking, yoga, meditation and theater.

The goal of the event, held in spring, was to inspire students to develop human relations projects through these various forms of art at their schools.

“It was a very inspiring experience,” said Margie Torrez, Bell Gardens High Culinary, Hospitality Opportunities Pathway (CHOP) teacher. “It made students and teachers more conscious of these social justice issues that are occurring in our society now.”

While students took part in their workshops, teachers networked with one another about methods to incorporate social justice-based student projects within their curriculum.

Upon returning to campus, Torrez brainstormed a social justice project to pursue with her students, deciding on a garden built with homemade cinderblocks to house succulents, a drought-tolerant plant.

“We wanted to beautify the campus and decided on a garden because the environmental pathway gardens on campus are hidden away, but this one is out in the open for everyone to see,” Torrez said.

Bell Gardens history teacher and boys soccer coach Miguel Ruiz attended the conference with five students – three from his Advanced Placement World History class and two from the soccer team.

“They’ve shown tremendous leadership skills and initiative in the classroom and on the field,” he said. “They decided to produce a video that brings awareness about being Latino and the issues they face that are affecting our community.”

Ruiz said the conference, with its clear and powerful message, exposed the students to something new.

“The conference opened up my eyes in appreciating the school I’m at,” said Anali Cabrera, a junior in Ruiz’s AP World History class. “I didn’t really appreciate Bell Gardens High as much as I do now, I’ve learned to appreciate where I come from and getting everything I can from my education.”

Montebello Unified Superintendent Susanna Contreras Smith said opportunities like the Rise Up for Humanity youth conference motivate students to take pride in their campus and make them excited to attend school.

“It’s important for students to understand social justice and how to advocate for themselves,” she said. “I am very proud of our teachers who have made this lesson a priority for their students. I look forward to seeing how these projects impact their fellow classmates.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

083016_MUSD_YOUTH1: Margie Torrez’s Culinary, Hospitality Opportunities Pathway (CHOP) students at Bell Gardens High School constructed a succulent garden as their social justice project after they attended the Rise Up for Humanity youth conference.

083016_MUSD_YOUTH2: Bell Gardens High junior Heidi Venegas talks about her Latino heritage pride in a video created by Miguel Ruiz’s students as a social justice project after attending the Rise Up for Humanity youth conference.