As the days stretch into summer and the sun nurtures us, we’ve been contemplating the true notion of belonging; what it is, how it feels, and how we might, as a community, cultivate more space for it to naturally flourish.
There are many, many definitions of belonging, but for the sake of mutual understanding, here at the LIFRC, belonging is feeling safe, secure and supported exactly as we are, without needing to change who we are.
To be fully accepted for our authentic selves.
The journey then, is knowing who that self is. That’s exactly why programs like La Cima Lopez are so very important.
Funded by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Building Bridges, Department of Commerce FRC, and Northsound ACH grants, which enable LIFRC to contract with the Equity Institute to facilitate their statewide program, La Cima is recognized for its bilingual youth leadership throughout the state of Washington and here on Lopez is supported by Karina Cerda of the LIFRC.
La Cima Lopez provides a safe space for Latinx youth, both on Lopez and interisland, to connect with personal and shared experiences through the lens of their cultural roots and has created a sense of belonging in a way that, at the mere mention of it, brings joy to their hearts.
But don’t take our word for it. Click on the 2-minute video below to hear in their own words why they love La Cima Lopez and how it has impacted their lives.