By: Natalie Godinez 

Self Help Graphics & Art is delighted to welcome our newest and third Youth Committee cohort. This year's cohort has nine new members and one returning member, all between 15 - 18. They are visual artists, poets, activists, musicians, athletes, and dancers. They began their term in September 2021. They have already done a DIY silkscreen workshop with SHG's Master Printer, Dewey Tafoya, worked on a beautiful altar for our annual Día de Los Muertos celebration, and begun to share in the @shgyouth Instagram account. Please join us in welcoming them and learning more about them below. 

Sol Aguilar Ramirez (she/her) is a 15-year-old Salvadoran-Mexican youth artist. She is currently a Sophomore at JMHS and loves creating visual art using watercolors, acrylic paint, clay, pencil & paper. Some of her hobbies include baking, making videos, reading romance novels, and taking care of her plants! As part of the youth committee, Sol is excited to learn from other artists and work with her peers to uplift the voices of the community through art.

Kimberly Espinosa (she/they) is a 17-year-old Zapotec artist and organizer from the community of Koreatown who is interested in practicing storytelling through her art. By interviewing and taking photos of the people around her, she has developed their passion for documenting community stories through photojournalism. She is currently storytelling through the Koreatown Storytelling Program, Las Fotos Project, and the SHG Youth Committee.

Robert Hernandez (he/him) is a 17-year-old Latinx student from Highland Park. Robert is in music, art, and community building. He likes listening to punk and metal music, playing hockey, and spending time on his drum kit. He joined the committee to be more involved in his community and use his love for art in spaces of activism. 

Paulina Jimenez (she/her) is a 16-year-old Junior High School student and a visual artist looking forward to being more engaged in her community and culture. She is a Native American- Latinx female who grew up in East Los Angeles and loves working with acrylic paint and graphite.

Velketh Mendizabal (she/her) is an 18-year-old first-generation immigrant student with a character composed of starry night wishes, light brushstrokes of humor, and an intense desire to pay forward the nurture her community has given her. She was held in a juvenile detention center, and that is her source of interest in voicing the concerns of often ignored or unappreciated people. Velketh finds it better to express oppression through art and bring out colored trauma and intense hues of experience when the world refuses to listen but can't neglect sights. 

Nadia Olea (she/her/ella) is a 17-year-old second-generation Mexican finishing her senior year at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). Her primary academic focus is vocal performance, but she is also studying choral music and music production. Outside of school, Nadia dances Folklorico (Mexican Folk Dance) at the Sabor de Mexico studio in Torrance, CA. 

Ariani Ray (she/her) is a 15-year-old sophomore at Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA) who enjoys writing and reading subjects like journalism, poetry, and fiction. Outside of academic interests, Ariani loves swimming, dancing Folklorico, running, and playing water polo. 

Maddy Rubio (she/her) is a 17-year-old Latinx artist born and raised in East LA. Her interests are making music, through the cello, and designing her own clothes. She also really likes roller skating and loves cats. Maddy enjoys spreading art within her community and is so happy to be a part of SHG.

Elizabeth Simon (she/they) is a 17-year-old second-year SHG Youth Committee member and a Senior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet High School. Elizabeth is part of multiple programs focused on how to make a change in her community. She is very passionate about everyone's rights and activism. In their spare time, they love listening to music and reading about current events. 

Tony D. Valentino (he/him) is an 18-year-old student and photographer. He recently graduated high school and is currently attending community college. He is interested in pursuing a career in photography, but he loves to skate and work on his car in his free time. Tony is excited to learn from artists as well as help the community grow. 

The SHG Youth Committee is a paid program for youth living in Los Angeles County, ages 15-20, to come together to gain experience in civic engagement and advocacy. Through this youth leadership role, participants receive training to create and lead programming for other youth to increase awareness in community health, youth incarceration, immigration, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and more. Follow @shgyouth on Instagram to learn more about their projects. 

Natalie M Godinez is an artist, mother, educator, and Self Help Graphics & Art’s Community Engagement Manager.