Daniela Hernández: “We Need to Make Our Voices Heard and Achieve Societal Changes”

A fight for change. (Daniela Hernández)

Her voice is soft and calm, but the topics she speaks about are not. She is Daniela Hernández, a Guatemalan and the Senior Director of Campaign Development at Inner City Struggle.

“You can see inequalities everywhere; the struggle to find equality is constant,” she says. For her, activism is not an option. “We need to collaborate, be proactive, and try to participate in activities that can transform our society,” she says.

Daniela could do many other things, but she has chosen to be on the front lines to help in her role at this organization and promote societal changes. “Everything is connected—the issues with rent, educational problems, the community’s struggle to improve their lives,” she says.

Her parents migrated for a better quality of life. She has followed the same path in different ways; since 2012, she has been with Inner City Struggle to collaborate on youth, educational, and other programs to have an impact on the community. Daniela is one of those people who might not be seen much, but is actively present in issues that need her participation.

“I saw and was aware of my parents’ struggle, because of that I was convinced that I wanted to dedicate my life to collaborating for just causes,” she says. Despite all the difficult situations confronting Los Angeles, she believes change is possible.

“I have hope that a better world is possible. I could be doing other things, but I have decided to dedicate my work to the community,” she adds. For her, being aware of and understanding the problems the community faces is important. “We need to be part of the solution,” she says.

In her current role, she is in charge of The Equity Alliance for LA’s Kids Policy Platform, where they seek to have their voices heard and achieve greater equity in education. “As I mentioned earlier, everything is connected, and education is a fundamental part of this.

“Many times, we talk about inequalities and blame people without evaluating or understanding that there are no resources for our community. If we truly want to change things, we must consider everything: whether our voices are heard, whether resources are provided, and whether there is an intention to change things. If there are no resources, then we don’t have the tools to change and develop programs and plans that can transform the community. That’s why working there, with the people, is important,” she says.

There is a belief that young people are not interested in community problems. Daniela shows otherwise, and is the opposite; for her, it is of utmost importance that society has better options and alternatives. “Change? Of course, I have hope. I believe that if we work hard and interact with the community, we can achieve goals that we might not have thought possible. The community is very wise and can make transformations. That’s why I have decided to dedicate myself fully, to show that change is possible, and that the community needs this type of activism. We must make a strong stand against what is happening,” she says.

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