From August 21 to August 25, 2015, about 20 youth and 4 mentors from City Heights attended the Sisters and Brothers at the Capitol Advocacy Days up in Sacramento, California. The annual trip is a part of Building Healthy Communities, a 10-year, $1 million initiative to change the way that health happens in California. Mid-City CAN Youth Council members were vocal advocates for gender and racial-justice issues.  This year’s theme was “Free Our Dreams.” Jose Ortega, a 17-year-old student from San Diego High School, was one of the youth on the trip. This is his experience on his first interaction with California’s political system.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/141456353@N05/27063723774/in/dateposted-public/

By Jose Ortega

“I just recently went to Sacramento, California with Mid-City Community Advocacy Network. In a wrap, the trip was an amazing experience to both learn and grow as a person.

I decided to go on the trip because personally, it sounded like fun to leave San Diego for a weekend and also get to know people and possibly get to know politically influential people here for California.