YW+ A field trip brings students together

This past Friday, Young Women+ Achievement students and LAS students went on their end of year fieldtrip into Denver. The students were so excited to go to Meow Wolf and Dave & Busters for the day, along with their advocates and school liaisons. It was an awesome bonding opportunity with 3 different schools participating, and 22 in attendance!

The group from Centaurus High School, New Vista High School and Arapahoe Ridge High School explored interactive art from hundreds of artists at Meow Wolf, enjoyed a buffet for lunch, and worked together to win prizes at Dave & Busters.

These group fields trips are important so the students can build relationships with others like them. As Clara Santos, the advocate from Arapahoe Ridge High School noted, “…the girls said they were grateful to look around and see girls who look like them. I think that's really important just to have that space in and out of a school setting. The need for this program is so important because it's somewhere where they can feel safe and relate to someone who is like them. You're giving them an opportunity to feel empowered in a smaller space where they see other people who have their same identities.”

Lupita Ortiz, an advocate at new Vista High School elaborated, “Having the same culture is pivotal. I think it helps me connect with them better. And then when they talk about family matters or having to work extra hours, I can like relate to that, and can give them advice since I've been there. I felt that it definitely makes it easier to connect with them.”

Sandra Salazar, one of the school liaisons, agreed, “It must be important to these girls if they prioritize it to come to meetings at the school and on this field trip. The whole gist what they did on this field trip is to completely disconnect from their normal work, have fun, and they love it. So that's it. That's why we are doing this. I'm glad that the YWCA offers this program because it’s more than just another language to understand, like, how wonderful to have someone understand your culture? What does that mean to them? There is belonging, connections, and trust. We're trying to give them hope for a better future.”