A Visit to Latin American Youth Center

This week, we're thrilled to introduce you to a new member of the DCAYA staff, Laura Romero. We'll let her introduce herself in this post, as well as share a bit from her visit to Latin American Youth Center.

As the new Youth Policy Associate at DCAYA, I am learning about issues that affect youth in DC--one of those issues is youth homelessness. I’ve always been interested in the nonprofit world, but my passion for politics led me to American University where I study an interdisciplinary major, CLEG (Communication, Law, Economics and Government). I’ve worked with nonprofits before. Specifically, I taught English at Colombia Chiquita, an organization dedicated to helping abandoned and at-risk children. I was also the founder/president of the American Red Cross Club at my high school where we Citizen CPR certified students and installed fire alarms in low-income neighborhoods. Now, at the DCAYA, I’m learning about many issues. I’m sitting in on meetings and listening to people discuss passionately about what they are working on, and I’ve had the opportunity to go out into the city and immerse myself into the issues that affect youth here.

In October, I had the opportunity to visit the Latin American Youth Center (“LAYC”) Safe House Drop-in Center, a safe space for youth who are in need of housing resources. The center offers employment and educational guidance, long-term case management, assistance in finding housing programs and shelters as well as supplies, clothes and other needs. 

Walking into the center, you immediately feel the sense of community and openness. The center encompasses diversity and inclusion and welcomes youth 24 years old and under of any race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity without, limiting its assistance to those who are of Latin background. 

Low-income youth face many barriers to succeed, and to address those barriers, LAYC helps provide opportunities like GED exam preparation, year-round tutoring and homework assistance as well as college preparation. Besides providing academic opportunities, the organization provides safe housing, including transitional housing for homeless and runaway youth, and health and wellness assistance, including sexual health education and counseling.

I was able to meet with John Van Zandt, the Safe Housing Program Manager, who is very dedicated and passionate about his work with LAYC. John joined LAYC 8 years ago after having been a spanish teacher at a high school. He gave Mariah, the DCAYA Youth Voice Fellow, and I a tour around the drop-in center to give us a better idea of the work at LAYC. 

On the first floor, the center has a place where youth can use computers for educational and recreational purposes, and behind that room is where the bunk beds are. LAYC opens their doors to any young person who is in need of any assistance--some youth might need a place to live while others just want to be in a safe space for a couple of hours. 

The second floor was my favorite. The smell of pasta and mashed potatoes led us into a spacious living room. Young people were sitting on couches while one young woman prepared a meal that smelled absolutely delicious creating a cozy, homelike setting. 

We also toured other rooms of office space and storage. One room, designed by IKEA after awarding the organization a prize, serves as a room of needs where youth can get clothes, shoes, or diapers. LAYC is always in need of donations; anything from food to clothes to supplies can be of great use to these youth. 

Although my visit was short, I was able to witness the dedication the staff has to bettering youth’s lives. What they do isn’t easy, but it’s rewarding and full of constant joy. Having had the chance to see what this amazing organization does was an unforgettable experience. 

Organizations like LAYC are important because they help children, teenagers, and young adults find their potential and motivate them to overcome barriers. LAYC gives them opportunities that they’ve never had before.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Every year, as many as 7,354 youth will experience at least one night of homelessness in the District. Currently, there is not enough shelter/housing for youth experiencing homelessness to meet the growing demand in the District. DCAYA will have an ongoing series of blog posts where experts and more members of DCAYA will share insights and information on youth homelessness.

We are grateful to have Laura on board and we hope you'll get a chance to engage with her, during her time at DC Alliance of Youth Advocates.