This Ain't No Charity Work, This is Community.

Good evening beautiful blog followers...or perhaps just to myself if no one is following...lol


Wanted to say a few words about cultural exchange work.  Some folks have asked if we are doing missionary work.  There are three words that answer that question.

No No No.

Our group of 9 does include religious people, spiritual people and perhaps some neither (haven't asked everyone about this to be honest).  But we are not a religious group and we have no spiritual message to deliver to the Philippines as a group.  What brought us together is our desire to travel, learn and make connections outside of the United States.  We know that we will be asking groups to give us knowledge, time and energy and we will in turn give what we can: YTP t-shirts and water bottles,  school supplies and money and if asked, we will talk about our work in the U.S.

Because travel is intimidating, expensive and requires a lot of logistics, most foster youth never get out of the U.S.

Our group makes travel more possible for foster youth.  It is the first international trip for many of our young adult travelers.

And while we do want to feast our eyes on beautiful sights (beaches, mountains, architecture), we mostly want to meet with people who are doing work in their communities under circumstances similar and different from our own.

We want to know how they do it, why they do it, how they collaborate, fund, ignite and continue the work they do to make communities better in the Philippines.

We want to meet feminists, youth organizers, community based folks, laborers, radicals, government workers, everyone.

We are going to expand our world view.  We will look at the body postures people hold, the tones in which they speak, the texture of their skin, the strength of their analysis.  We are going to listen and learn.  We are hoping to build community around the world.  That is not charity work, that is social change.

Just a Couple Weeks Out...

Hello beautiful people, thank you for joining us on our journey as we fly into another country. Our group is excited and eagerly waiting to embark on some new adventures into the Philippines. As our planning continues the synergy is rising among the members of this group. We are all looking forward to many different experiences and adventures. Everyday we are getting closer to our fundraising goals and planning has been moving more rapidly as we get closer to our departure date.

Every member participating is involved and/or someway connected to advocacy and youth leadership. We all in someway are working to give back to our communities through these international experiences. The lessons and conversations that we have are enriching to us and the community we work with. I am looking forward to the learning that lies ahead =)

I'm currently on the Amtrak southbound back to Monterey/Salinas. I had such a fantastic weekend at the Youth Training Project retreat. It was so awesome to finally meet Jamie and get to know her better. On Sunday the Foster Youth Cultural Exchange group had a conference call and it was so great to be in the same room with Jamie and Marcy. It is definitely a challenge to plan an international trip when we are all so scattered. Jamie lives in San Francisco, Marcy lives in Los Angeles, and I live in Monterey. It was great to be at the retreat with them because we also have some work to do as a group. Marcy and I are on the History & Culture committee, and Jamie and I are on the Social Justice committee. Being in the same building makes getting the work done a lot easier.

YOUTH Training Project 2014 Trainers

I can say that I have grown since Friday. It was so awesome to be at a lodge in the outskirts of the city with little to no reception. The Wifi sucked! But it allowed the 22 of us to bond. Marcy and I shared a bedroom and a bed. I have known Marcy for so long, and have hung out with her a few times but this time was different. This time we were able to dig under the surface and connect on a deeper and richer level. She is the caregiver to her siblings and it's so beautiful to hear how she speaks about her siblings. Her eyes light up when she speaks of their accomplishments, and it is great to be able to understand how much an older sibling actually cares for, nurtures, and helps their younger siblings grow while taking care of themselves. It's an actual sacrafice. As the youngest of seven, it makes me appreciate my older siblings much more. Marcy and I honestly talked each other to sleep every night. Laying in bed with Marcy reminded me of the type of bond my siblings and I had when we were really young. It was as if I was laying in bed, sharing my thoughts, fears and dreams with a sister. God bless Marcy.

I will say that I have some fears about this trip to the Philippines. First off, I hate shots and I haven't had health insurance since I was 21. It's only been two years, but I wish I could walk into a doctors office and not fear that fire-breathing bill. I fear the bill that I will have to pay upon receiving the vaccinations I need for this trip. Jamie mentioned that one of the vaccinations/pills made her have crazy dreams and that scares me too! Also, after doing so much research on the social justice organizations in the Philippines, I found that many of them have been created to help stop human trafficking. I am scared of getting kidnapped. These fears are just a result of all those scary/dumb movies that I've watched growing up. I shared that fear with Marcy and she said, "Well you're pretty so I can see why someone would kidnap you" Scary huh? That didn't help.

Although I have fears and concerns, I feel comfortable with the thought that our voyage will begin in 22 days! I am anxious, excited, nervous, and a bit worried. But I believe that God will keep me safe, help me keep my mind clear of negative energy, and guide me on my trip. Once I return to Monterey I will research International Doctors/clinics so that I can set up an appointment to get the vaccinations that I need.

I am currently on the amtrak train on my way to the Winter Leadership Institute with the Youth Training Project. I'm excited. I could say that I am nervous but then I would be lying. I'm excited because I will get some training this weekend, the training will help me become a better leader and a better trainer. I currently have some experience, but I believe that practice makes better :)

It will be a great opportunity and a fun adventure. I am sure that I will create new friendships, and be able to apply the skills that I learn to all the other projects, jobs, and opportunities I come across.
I hope that I will be able to apply some of the skills I learn this weekend to our trip to the Phillipines.

Here we goooooooooo! First blog for the FYCE Philippines Trip

I went to see the movie Her yesterday.  I liked it.  What i liked the most was that it was filled with language.  Inner and cross dialogue about love, learning, yearning, reaching, growth, desire, want, passion, and an undeniable urge, no, NEED, to be connected.

I am one of those people.  I don't do well when I am not tethered to others.  I need connections to make this life meaningful.

Getting the chance to travel internationally has blown me away.  Meeting people from other cultures who do not know me from Adam (do people still say this?LOL) and who frankly could have every reason to disrespect me, disregard me, distrust me or dislike me because of my privileged country of origin...but who are still kind, curious about my group and kind...well that has been such a gift for a girl who likes to connect.

We had a two plus hour conference call tonight about the trip.  We are trying to nail down our groups to meet with, the transportation we will take, the places we will stay, the gifts we will bring...

We are still raising money.

We are still managing the finances of this little adhoc group (yes, that takes a long time too)...we are educating each other about safety, comfort, comraderie... and there is a little stress... it is all part of the connecting.

Kevin Clark joined in on our call tonight.  He is not going to this exchange but he was with us in South Africa.  He wanted to share some ideas and contacts, encourage us to keep asking others to contribute and talk about his process of becoming a good fundraiser.  I love Kevin.  He is a great connector.  Another "extra" that comes when planning a trip.  People join in.  People help out.  People are interested.

I am hoping to write more useful entries that can be used to support other foster youth or less privileged people to dream about and actually make international trips.  I look forward to your comments.  To people following our blog and for the connections to keep on magically sparking, guiding and warming.  Welcome aboard!

Our Team

Welcome, we want to thank you for following our journey as we step into another country to learn more around social justice practices.

Meet Our Team

The Organizers:

Jamie Lee Evans 

Jamie is a 46 year-old mixed race Asian feminist who has spent the last twelve years inventing and implementing youth leadership development programs for California foster youth and young mental health consumers.  She is originally from Los Angeles County and grew up believing what she was told about places like San Francisco, namely that it was in another country!  Because of poverty and therefore the limited travel experience of her family, five hours away may as well have been another planet.  Jamie’s experience as a former foster child with inadequate stability in her earliest years impacted her likelihood to be adventurous as an adult.  She honestly admits that she has been afflicted with a habit to cling to the familiar, and she internalized a fear of the unknown, making “travel” only something that “other people do.”  At 44, she finally earned enough cash and gained enough guts to make an international trip and it opened up her perspective more than she could have imagined.  (Shout out to personal trainer Dante Rodriguez who made Muay Thai training in Thailand sound like the bomb!) One of her new life goals is to help young people travel internationally and to help build community around learning from travel.  The Philippines is the second trip of a hopeful many.  She thanks her family of choice and community for supporting this learning exchange.  Even just the planning has been mind blowing!

Kate Teague

Kate has been the Bay Area/Central Valley Outreach Coordinator at California Youth Connection (CYC) since Day at Capitol 2006.  Kate first became involved with CYC as an Americorp intern at the Bill Wilson Center in Santa Clara County when her then supervisor Deryk Clark (a former CYC board member) told her that part of her job would be to attend CYC meetings.  After several years of volunteering as a Supporter with the Santa Clara Chapter, and then the Alameda Chapter, she joined the CYC staff. Outside of working at CYC, Kate is also on the Board of Directors for Youth In Mind, a statewide collaboration of youth impacted by the mental health system working to improve the lives of other youth through education and advocacy.

Rebecca Leach 

Rebecca Leach currently works for California Youth Connection as a Regional Coordinator. She is passionate about advocacy, youth leadership development, cultural and travel experiences.  Rebecca is an experienced traveler and has traveled to East and Western Europe, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt and much of the United States.  She enjoys immersing herself in local culture and history and believes international travel is a tool to understanding and navigating the world.  Travel has allowed Rebecca to grow into a more environmentally and compassionate person.  As an alumnus of the foster care system- she recognizes the importance of exposing other former foster youth to travel.  She began traveling internationally with the support of her mentor who encouraged her to broaden her worldview and explore!  She joined the Foster Youth Cultural Exchange program because she is passionate about giving young adults the opportunity to discover and learn from other cultures and environments.   She looks forward to sharing the work of California Youth Connection and learning about youth movements in the Philippines. 

Donte Rodriguez

My name is Dante. I am a native of Oakland, CA. My interest in martial arts and physical fitness began at a young age.  It is a passion of mine.  As I got older, I decided to make my passion my career. I have been a certified personal trainer for the last 6 years.  I work with a vast cliental of all types of people: teenagers, elderly people, expecting mothers, and international music entertainers.  I have traveled to Asia to train in Qi Gong in China, as well as Muay Thai kickboxing in Thailand.  One of the organizations that I have also worked with, the Y.O.U.T.H Training Project, has illustrated the impact that becoming stronger in body and in mind can have on current and former foster youth.  Traveling has been a very rewarding and educational experience for me, and I am excited to work with young people as we travel to Philippines. 

The 'Youth'

Ipo Ma'e

Ipo Maʻe is a 24 year old former foster youth from the island of Molokai. 

Ipo recently moved to California to continue her education in Holistic Health and Wellness. Her goal is to form an intentional community and non profit for transition aged and former foster youth that focuses of indigenous holistic healing alternatives. She hopes that through this cultural exchange she will learn more deeply of t

Emma Ramirez

Emma Ramirez, 23 is a 2013 graduate from California State University, Monterey Bay. Emma’s major at CSUMB was Liberal Studies and her minor was in Spanish Language and Hispanic Cultures. While Emma was pursuing her degree, she worked for several on campus programs like Upward Bound, the Educational Opportunity Program, and the Compass Program. The Compass Program is CSUMB’s support program for former foster youth. In all those jobs Emma realized her passion for helping low income, first generation, and at risk youth. Emma also works at a boy’s group home as a staff, and since her graduation at CSUMB as a house parent.  

Emma is a former foster youth from San Diego county and entered care with her three older brothers when she was four years old. She relocated to Monterey County in 2008 to begin her studies at CSUMB. Emma is passionate about education in all aspects. She believes that every youth has the right to receive an education, and has the potential to end the cycle of poverty. Emma is also an advocate for foster youth of all ages, and many of the foster youth that she has worked with have graduated from high school and gone off to college. She is a house parent, tutor, and academic advisor for foster youth in Monterey County. 

While in the Philippines Emma hopes to do research on the Child Welfare system, poverty, and education. She hopes to look at what she can bring back to the United States to improve the child welfare system, and hopes to build connections with organizations in the Philippines that serve youth and low income families. She hopes to use the information and research that she collects to help her find the right graduate program to pursue her Master’s degree.

Elias Lopez

Eli recently relocated to San Diego and is excited about international travels. The past few years he has traveled throughout the country speaking and training youth in group homes, foster homes, and high schools. He has met with thousands of “high risk” youth, childcare professionals, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, social workers, and others in the field of social work and mental health; to gain a better understanding of systems that many experience. Eli has also partnered up with many organizations that empower and equip both youth and young adults. His passion and drive is to work with others to help them reach and maximize their full potential.

Marcy

Marcy Valenzuela, 25,  was born and raised in East Los Angeles and has never traveled outside of the country.  She comes from a family where the only person who traveled was her father, and he did that through the military.  Marcy has journeyed throughout California and as far as Washington DC acting as an advocate for foster youth, but she pretty much thought she would need to join the military to travel anywhere internationally.  She is the caregiver of her three younger siblings and fought hard to keep them out of the larger foster care system so that she could ensure they felt loved.  Marcy works hard to provide them an environment in which they can thrive and grow and demonstrate to them that just because they were raised a certain way, they are not destined to keep living life the same as their parents.  Marcy says that growing up poor for most people means you just don't hear about travel, it's just not discussed; and as a foster youth, you grow up in a bubble, hardly able to see outside your immediate circumstances and without much hope.  Marcy grew up feeling like international travel was only a dream that would never be realized.  She is thrilled to learn about Philippine culture, meet activists and organizers and better understand how a people, who live without many resources she takes for granted, can be so happy and create such strong community.  She looks forward to sharing her learnings with her siblings.  She is committed to take on the challenge of seeing her privilege as an American and translating her experiences in the Philippines to the advocacy work that she and her siblings lead in California.

Lazara Martinez