The local nonprofit TOGETHER! is committed to assisting underserved Latino youth with reaching their highest potential. Thanks to TOGETHER!, four local student campers and two junior counselors attended the La Cima Bilingual Leadership Camp on the Central Washington University campus in July.
TOGETHER! Host Homes Case Manager Morelia Ayala says the camp has a big impact on students. La Cima, which means “summit,” shows campers how to gain skills that open doors to higher education, to flourish and give back. “It’s a really powerful week for a lot of these kids,” she says.
Local 10th grader Dayra Meza says she participated in the camp through TOGETHER! because she wanted to challenge herself, grow as a leader, and connect with students motivated to making a difference. “I saw this as a chance to learn more about my roots, gain confidence, and build new skills that I can take back with me to school and beyond,” Meza says.
“I also learned how to speak up with confidence, work as a team, and take initiative even when it feels uncomfortable,” Meza adds. “The workshops helped me reflect on who I am and what kind of impact I want to make, and being surrounded by other students with similar goals showed me that I’m not alone in wanting to create change.”
TOGETHER! and La Cima Inspire First Generation Latino Youth to Pursue Higher Education
TOGETHER! serves South Sound youth and families in its mission to advance the health and well-being of all young people and provides outreach and support for Latino youth. Ayala manages the Host Homes Program, a housing response for unaccompanied North Thurston and Tumwater high school students. Ayala participated in the La Cima bilingual Spanish and English summer camp as a student and counselor. Given her great experiences, she organized a new effort this year at TOGETHER! to obtain grants so that more local students could attend.
Ayala says about 260 Latino high school student campers discovered tools and resources to access higher education and improve their futures. “One of the biggest lessons we teach is that education does not equal intelligence,” she says. “But in this country, education does equal opportunity. Degrees and titles open a lot of doors.”
Ayala says campers, who include undocumented youth, learn about higher education pathways. “We show them what’s possible and what’s accessible,” she explains.
Navigational Capital Bolsters Latino Youth Experiencing System Disadvantages
Many children with immigrant backgrounds are at a disadvantage because they lack family members to guide them through the higher education system. “Lots of these kids have no one to tell them how to do it,” explains Ayala. “As first-generation kids, you have to learn to figure it out on your own. It’s sink or swim.”
Latinos are more likely to be the first in their family to attend college than any other racial group. The camp teaches students to access their immigrant community and bridge that knowledge gap. While their parents might not have experienced higher education application procedures, another community member could be a guide. “We remind students, we have that navigational capital,” says Ayala.
Experiential Learning Delivers Impactful Life Lessons for TOGETHER! Youth
La Cima students participate in experiential learning, using games demonstrating how to juggle life and school. In “Moonball” student groups bounce a ball without interruption for the number of times equal to college credits. If groups don’t reach the required number, they must start over. This game shows that family, jobs and school may get disrupted but students need to persevere. Students learn that telling themselves to keep moving forward after failures or program interruptions makes an impact. “They see how self-talk is so powerful and has immediate behavioral changes,” explains Ayala. “They are asked, ‘How does this translate into the real world? What can you change?’”
Local 11th grader Sheyla Álvarez Gómez attended La Cima through TOGETHER! and says she heard stories motivating her to work toward her goals, which includes Running Start and college. “I realized I’m not alone in my struggles or dreams,” she explains. “There’s a community that shares similar values. I learned to trust myself more and take initiative. I discovered areas where I could improve and grow both personally and professionally. I understood that leadership isn’t just about guiding, but also about listening, serving, and learning from others.”
Gomez says the camp inspires, challenges, and helps students grow. “It was a space where I learned, challenged myself, and discovered I was capable of much more than I thought,” she says. “I left with new ideas, more self-confidence and a renewed motivation to continue growing.”
Meza and Gómez recommend students consider La Cima. Students can contact their high school counselors or the Association of Washington Student Leaders.
For more information on programs supporting local youth, visit the TOGETHER! website.
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