The following essay is by Youth Council member Denley. He will be a junior at El Cajon Valley High School in the fall and has been part of Mid-City CAN's Youth Council and their advocacy to revitalize Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park in City Heights since March 2024. 

I immigrated to the United States right before my ninth birthday from Taiwan. I carried a dream that America was what its biggest supporters said it was and I hoped it was a land of opportunity.

I've always dreamed of being part of something greater than myself. I joined Mid-City CAN with the hope of helping to drive meaningful change and becoming part of a new generation of better leaders.

My name, Denley, came from my Chinese name, which means ceremony. I always thought that my name meant that my mom wants me to be a party person, but maybe it means that I should celebrate the important achievements I make in life with other people.

That’s what I intend to do when Youth Council finally achieves our goal of revitalizing Officer Jeremy Henwood Memorial Park. 2025 has been a hard year for people who believe in change and want to see more of it, especially for young people like me.

It often feels like there isn’t much you can do to help the world around you. For the longest time, I thought that the progress we make as a country is dependent on the politics at a national level.

As I developed a deep passion for cities, I started noticing that the politics that touches me the most is all local.

My walk to school wouldn’t be comfortable at all without local funding for sidewalks.

I wouldn’t have a library to use without local funding, and I wouldn't have parks to spend time at without local funding either.

I never had a way to advocate for the improvement of our cities until I started with Mid-City CAN.

When I discovered Mid-City CAN’s goal to revitalize an urban park, I assumed that the process of getting funding for the park would be boring. As I worked with Mid-City CAN, I’ve met so many passionate people who genuinely care about their community.

When I spoke at my first budget hearing in 2024, it felt hard to start using my voice as a weapon for change, but the passion and people that packed the room helped energize me.

Working on the campaign to revitalize Officer Jeremy Henwood Park has helped me learn about how to advocate for things you care about. I’ve learned that there are often multiple ways to fund a project. I’ve learned that projects involve many different organizations, and many people from the community as well.

I’ve also learned more about the politics of San Diego.

I learned that the mayor has a lot of control over the city’s budget, yet the mayor doesn’t prioritize investing in City Heights. Working on the park campaign has taught me that the progressive politics of California don’t always guarantee progressive policies or progressive budgets.

Despite how frustrating it has been with the park not receiving all of the funding it needs, it’s still important to celebrate that Youth Council was able to win a million dollars for the park in 2024. Even with the win, it’s still not enough to revitalize the park. The park’s need for investment continues, so the frustrating fight to fund it goes on.

Trying to make a change in San Diego has also helped me to change. The park campaign has helped prepare me for all the advocacy I plan on doing in the future. As I’ve fought for Henwood Park, I’ve gained the confidence and knowledge to fight in the future, and for the future.

I plan on using what I’ve learned to change more than the park -- I want to do my part in changing the world for my generation.

But before any of that, I, along with the rest of Youth Council, ask that the city prioritize us by providing the $2.5 million dollars that is necessary to revitalize the park.

Park Update: After two and a half years of hard work and advocacy, Youth Council secured $1.75 million from the City of San Diego to renovate the playground for kids ages 2 to 5. It’s a big win but there’s still more to do. Another $2.5 million is needed to upgrade the playground for older kids, ages 5 to 12, and make the park a great space for all ages. Click here to read the youth's testimonies during the budget hearings.

Support the campaign! Youth Council has been showing up strong and determined at City Hall, fighting for equity and a park that truly reflects the spirit of City Heights. Your donation fuels their movement, covering rides, meals, posters, and everything they need to keep pushing for the change their community deserves. Be part of the momentum: donate today and power the next generation of community leaders!