This Saturday, from 3 to 7 p.m., the Boyle Heights Youth Festival will take place, aiming to create a space for respite and relaxation for the community during these challenging times.
The chaos and mobilizations seen throughout Friday in Los Angeles due to the ICE raids stood in stark contrast to a group of young Latinos preparing to celebrate the Boyle Heights Youth Festival this Saturday.
There is a collective indicator that Donald Trump’s policies have aggressively reached Los Angeles—a sanctuary city with a Latino population that makes up more than half of its residents.
“We are hopeful but also sad about everything that’s happening,” says Kennia Camacho, a 19-year-old student and host of the program Crises Communicator which airs on 101.5 FM.
Kennia is part of a generation of young Latinos from Boyle Heights who have lived through uncertainty, the pressure of anti-immigration policies, and a decrease in educational and job opportunities. Currently, the Trump Administration’s aggressive policies seem to be testing a community that has shown the resilience of Latinos.
“I’m a very confident person, I believe in the new generation, in young people like me. I believe we can change things. We need to stay organized and take action,” she adds. “They want to cut everything—funding for organizations, financial aid for school, increase deportations. All my friends are really nervous. We all have a family member or a friend who’s undocumented. This creates so many problems—social, economic, mental health. They make us doubt ourselves.”
The community will have the opportunity to enjoy artistic and musical activities and culinary delights.
Kennia sees herself reflected in this situation. She has been shaped by her experience at community college, has worked in nonprofit organizations, and has been able to move forward in society thanks to these opportunities. A new generation is now faced with the possibility of not having access to the same.
That’s why Kennia has built and shared her voice with those who need it. Her radio program addresses all these issues, with a particular focus on mental health.
“I lived it. I remember that during Trump’s first term I was very scared—some of my relatives didn’t have papers. Imagine that! Living with that fear. I was practically a child, a fifth-grade student,” she says.
She now studies at Pasadena City College, where she receives a lot of support from the institution, teachers, and classmates. But she knows not everyone has that opportunity.
“For these challenging times, I think there are a lot of resources out there. We need to look for them, and if we have the information, share it with others,” she says.
The Boyle Heights Youth Festival aims to be a cry of liberation and relaxation—a space where the entire community can interact, whether they’re young or not. The event, organized with the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, is sponsored by Converse. It is completely free and will feature music, theater, and food for attendees. It starts at 3 p.m. and will run until 7 p.m., at 2130 E. First Street.
“There are many ways of healing, and many times it’s not going to be pretty,” Camacho concludes.
