Eastside youth work to make community concerns heard this election

This story first appeared on The LA Local.

To prepare for this year’s election, young people on L.A.’s Eastside have been working with local nonprofit InnerCity Struggle to encourage their neighbors to make their voices heard, educate them about their rights and push for stronger civic participation — at a time when some community members are facing the consequences of immigration enforcement, housing insecurity and other issues.

The nonprofit, which was founded in 1994, is aiming to restore faith in democracy by hosting voter registration drives at high schools and voter protection workshops, as well as educating local residents on their rights and where and when to cast their ballots. Local teens told Boyle Heights Beat that it’s important to them that Eastsiders get a chance to weigh in on issues affecting their lives.

“I am tired of seeing our communities get attacked,” said Aholiabama Beltran, a senior at Lincoln High School, who also volunteers for the organization through its youth program.

She expressed frustration at the immigration enforcement raids happening in Los Angeles in addition to the rising costs of living and the gentrification of her community. “We are living in a time where young people worry about their parents not coming back home after work,” Beltran said.

Beltran, who is voting for the first time in this election, said voting is one way community members can push back against these challenges and advocate for change.

“My parents always encouraged me to go out and vote, especially since I have a brother who’s unable to go vote due to having a disability. I am not just voting for myself, but for my family, my brother, and the people who might not be able to vote due to their immigration status,” Beltran said.

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For InnerCity Struggle, encouraging voter participation is a way to rebuild trust in the political process among residents who feel their communities and concerns have been overlooked by elected officials.

Steven Ortega, the director of youth organizing, said immigration raids, family separations, housing insecurity and challenges facing public education have contributed to a sense of hopelessness among some Eastside residents.

“I feel that people are losing hope because they’re seeing that there’s no point at this moment,” Ortega said.

He said he believes young people can help change that outlook by learning about their rights, understanding what’s on the ballot and encouraging others to participate.

Although U.S. citizens must be at least 18 to vote, California allows eligible 16 and 17-year-olds to preregister, which, Ortega said, gives students an opportunity to get involved before they reach voting age.

In October, InnerCity Struggle held a voter registration drive for students at Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights, where students were encouraged to either preregister or, if they are 18 or older, register to vote.

Students interact people people tabling under a canopy with signage on it that reads "Voter registration here."

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Ortega said the hope is to get teenagers activated and ready to accept the “power and privilege” of voting.

“Young people play a really deep role in this,” he said.

According to Ortega, students involved in InnerCity Struggle’s fellowship program received training on voter registration and then led outreach efforts at their schools.

One of the students helping encourage civic participation is Kelly Woo, a junior at Woodrow Wilson High School and president of the school’s United Students Club, a student-led group affiliated with InnerCity Struggle that focuses on civil rights and community advocacy.

“I realized that if I want to create change … I have to go out of my way to, like, seek it out. It won’t just come to you naturally,” Woo said.

Although she is not yet 18, Woo said she has preregistered to vote and is encouraging her peers to do the same.

However, Woo said some of her peers question whether their individual votes can really make a difference.

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“They feel like … their voice doesn’t matter,” Woo explained. “They’re like … I’m just one person.”

Woo hopes to change that mindset by showing other students that their voices play a role in decisions affecting their neighborhoods. She said she often has conversations with her peers about voting and elections in a democracy, emphasizing that young people need to understand the democratic process now to participate meaningfully in the future.

A student holds a table sign with a QR code and hand writing that reads "Pledge to vote!" in front of a table with other students filling out papers.

InnerCity Struggle has also worked to educate older residents about their voting rights.

On Oct. 16, the nonprofit brought together teenagers, adults and older residents for a voter protection workshop, where information was provided in English and Spanish. At the workshop, California attorney Buddy Norton joined virtually to explain voters’ rights and answer questions from residents.

Norton discussed laws prohibiting voter intimidation and interference at polling locations, and he shared information about how residents can protect their rights and those of others.

A woman speaks into a microphone as she, and others sitting in a room, face a screen.

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At InnerCity Struggle’s Lucha Carnival event on Oct. 26, Woo delivered a speech on the Mariachi Plaza stage, sharing why it is important for the community to go out and vote.

“As a resident of El Sereno, I have noticed an increase in our local prices, homelessness and a lack of resources for our community,” Woo said.

She also spoke about watching her immigrant parents struggle and how their experiences have motivated her to advocate for change at school and in her community.

Together, these events have brought students and older residents into conversations about voting, giving young people opportunities to take leadership roles while helping their neighbors better understand their rights.

A close up of the back of a t-shirt a student is wearing that reads "All power to the students" with a fist coming out of a school.

As Beltran explained, she wants her peers to recognize the issues facing their community.

“Some students say it doesn’t affect me, so why should I care? But…it affects everyone, even if it doesn’t happen to you, it still affects your neighbor, your mom’s friend, or your friend’s friend,” Beltran said.

This story was produced under The LA Local’s Youth Journalism Program. To learn more or to get involved, click here.

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