Shout out to Huegel Elementary

Hola!

A few weeks ago, I got a call asking me to connect the Latino Students Leadership program at Huegel with an organization that works with the unsheltered population. The young students worked for months on developing leadership skills.

One of the group's key objectives was community service. They took the initiative to create a design and sell it on T-shirts to their teachers, with the proceeds supporting the unsheltered. This entrepreneurial spirit and the compassion demonstrated toward the unsheltered community are commendable and should inspire us all.

I connected the group with Catalyst For Change; Makayla runs the Family Outreach group. On Thursday, we went to meet the kids. Ms. Vazquez, the group lead, Principal Kloos, and Dr. Ebbe, MMSD's Deputy Associate Superintendent of Middle Schools, welcomed us. I got to introduce Makayla and share a little bit of my journey. At the end of the meeting, the kids presented Makayla with a check for their donation.

These moments are not just heartwarming; they are transformative. They remind me of the power of community and the resilience of our youth. They renew my spirit and deepen my commitment to supporting people of all ages and gender identities in our city who struggle to access basic needs like food, housing, and transit.