Changemaker Catalyst Award recipient Cristina Martínez Istillarte spent her summer curating and organizing a series of educational workshops for Latine youth in New Orleans and started a video podcast with L.U.N.A members at Puentes New Orleans, a non profit organization that focuses on youth education, leadership and development. Cristina recently earned her Phd in Cultural Studies at Tulane University. She is currently a Program Manager at Puentes and teaches at Loyola University.
Life often presents us with opportunities to make a meaningful impact, but it takes dedication and a strong sense of purpose to truly become a change maker. I am humbled to share my journey leading a youth program at a local non-profit.
During my time at Tulane, I realized my soft skills and values were leading me toward becoming a catalyst for change, but my journey truly began when I stumbled upon Puentes: a local non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the voices of Latine youth in New Orleans. Their tireless efforts for over 16 years to create positive change resonated with me, and I was honored to join their cause. I wholeheartedly embraced my role working alongside a very small team to address the complex and pressing issues facing the Latine youth community in New Orleans and surrounding areas.
My first initiative was to organize a series of summer educational events geared towards increasing the participation of Latine youth in our programs. These custom workshops and discussions were facilitated by fellow Latine community leaders and scholars covering an array of subjects, including, but not limited to, the advantages of bilingualism, immigrant rights in the United States, the intersection of the climate crisis and immigration, the role of politics in social media, and the arts of photography and storytelling.
For this educational series, our mission was to deeply explore a wide range of topics that address the unique challenges and important issues faced by Latine youth in New Orleans and across the United States. We delved into issues of identity, empowerment, and self-knowledge. Regularly, we extended invitations to speakers and scholars from diverse backgrounds who were actively engaged in Latin communities and educational institutions. They shared their expertise on topics of interest, recounted their personal journeys, and inspired our future leaders to take action. We realized how important it was to have conversations about these topics and how this safe space would create more opportunities for bringing together changemakers, community leaders, artists, and students in a physical setting, enabling them to collectively engage in self-discovery, explore cultural history, and advocate for civil rights, among other pursuits.
The journey of restarting L.U.N.A (Latines Unides de Nueva Orleans en Acción) has been nothing short of inspiring. As our program gained momentum, it was heartening to witness a growing number of youth who were not only eager to support our initiatives but also eager to roll up their sleeves and enthusiastically participate in them. However, if I had to pick a favorite moment in this journey, that would be the beautiful friendships that blossomed among the youth. Despite their unique backgrounds, these young individuals had so much in common, and it was heartwarming to see them exchanging ideas, skills, and stories. When individuals with similar goals and aspirations unite for a common cause, it demonstrates the remarkable potential for positive transformation. And that’s how the concept of our Video Podcast was born: out of a series of inspiring meetings with the incredible youth of L.U.N.A. From the very beginning, it was impossible not to recognize the immense power and importance of their collective stories. These young adults had faced unique challenges and embarked on remarkable journeys, and it became clear that their narratives held the potential to inspire, inform, and offer support to others who find themselves in similar situations.
With this in mind, I was instantly motivated to launch a project where Latine youth could step forward and share their personal experiences. Our video podcast would serve as a platform for them to tell their stories, not only to raise awareness but also to extend a helping hand to others who might be walking a similar path. It’s all about the strength of unity and the belief that by sharing their journeys, these youth can make a real difference in the lives of others facing similar challenges. It’s a project that resonates with the spirit of L.U.N.A. and its commitment to creating a supportive and empowering community for Latine youth.
We envision this initiative as a continuous effort to engage, gather, and organize young minds, all with the goal of fostering a more equitable and just community through the art of digital collective storytelling. In our video podcast, our dynamic youth members are the narrators, leaders, and producers. They are the driving force behind this platform. But it’s not just about their voices; it’s also about amplifying the voices of other community members who are affected by inequalities.
This space is a space where our youth aren’t just dreaming of a better tomorrow; they’re actively engaged in shaping it. They are the architects of change and the leaders of a brighter future. Through their stories and the voices they uplift, we’re building a community where action and empowerment go hand in hand. Stay tuned, because this journey promises to be nothing short of inspiring. Together, we’re on a mission to create a world where every voice is heard, every story is valued, and every youth has the power to be a changemaker.
One of the most important lessons I learned was the power of collaboration. Change-making is not a solitary endeavor, and it is through the collective efforts of passionate young adults that we are starting to achieve our goals and create a lasting impact. My experience as a Program Manager at Puentes New Orleans has been a transformative journey that has shown me that anyone, with dedication and a deep sense of purpose, can be a catalyst for positive change in their community. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been awarded and I look forward to continuing my journey as a change maker, making a difference one step at a time.
L.U.N.A members with me and Alex Owens (Founder, Be Loud Studios)
“I’m so thankful to know there’s a place to go where my culture is seen for so much more than its poverty or disadvantages. Other than home, I had never experienced the level of pride I was able to experience at L.U.N.A for being Latina. The dialogues on important topics are so interesting & the recommendations we get on how we can make a change in our society are very insightful. Thank you for being this safe place for us” (Jeimy, 18)
Promoting our Programs at Sarah Reed High School
LUNA youths during a brainstorming meeting for our video podcast.