About the CAC Member and Site (2016-2017):

Julia Celebrado-Royer served in CAC at Refugee Youth Project (RYP). RYP is a K-12 after-school program founded in partnership with BCCC and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), that uses art as a tool for communication and expression with youth who have recently come to this country from traumatic experiences abroad. The students in the program mostly come from: Bhutan, Nepal, Senegal, Eritrea, and recently some from Syria, Eastern Turkey, Iraq, and Sudan. Julia herself was born in the Philippines, but has lived in Maryland since she was in high school. She was committed to working with young people who needed extra support, as newcomers to this country. Julia worked with elementary school and high school students throughout the year, on drawing, sculpture, and installation projects about their identity.

"Born 2 Bmore (courtesy of my student, Harlaine)"

During this past summer (2017), I have had the privilege of being the supervisor of six high school YouthWorks Interns: four refugee youth, one immigrant and one American student. I've gotten to know their personalities, work ethics, humor, and glimpses of their life stories and their journey of coming to and living in America. During one of our end-of-the-day meeting, I began asking them questions about Patterson High School, where many of them attend school. One topic led to another and each student began sharing a little bit of their stories.

One student lost both her parents, a brother and a grandfather all in the same day. She wasn't explicit about what had happened but implied that it was from a violent conflict. Another student shared not knowing her father and having several of his brothers incarcerated the past year or so, also struggling to explain to her younger brother that being called the "N word" is an insult. Another youth began speaking about being afraid to live in a neighborhood where she does not feel safe. Only a few months ago a man was shot and killed around the corner where her and her family live.

I wish I knew what the right things to say are, but all I could do was sit, listen, and sympathize with them. At the very end of our conversation, they asked me how I ended up working for Refugee Youth Project, and why. I shared with them a bit of my story and told them that I wanted to serve at Refugee Youth Project to meet individuals like them, who even in the midst of their struggles, still find a purpose and hope to keep pushing on. I've enjoyed working with these youth tremendously, and I hope that someday they're able to see and know their potential to be whatever they want to be in the future.