Between Worlds: Struggles that Latinx Youth Face

10:30am-12pm

Primary Presenter: Hillary Boyzo

Session Type: Panel Discussion

Topic: Identities and Intersectionality

Description

Allegheny County has approximately 28,000 Latinx, 30% (8,400) of whom are under 18 years of age, and about 3,500 are between the ages of 12 and 18. Latinx youth in both established and emerging immigrant destinations report stressors related to discrimination, lack of legal documentation, and parental pressure to succeed. For youth living in an emerging Latinx community, where Latinxs are a small yet growing proportion of the population, they may also experience being isolated from extended family and other social supports. Most of the information we have comes from research, but not from the youth themselves. What do Latinx youth think and feel about themselves and their community? Do youth develop resilience by strengthening their ethnic identity or becoming more American? How do Latinx youth deal with bilingualism? These are some questions that we want to start exploring in this session.

Members of F.L.Y (Future for Latino Youth) Pittsburgh will share their perspectives of how they cultivate their Latinx identity while dealing with internal and external pressures. Many questions are in the minds of youth in regards to their identity and they are left with the struggle of answering them. Youth are battling the expectations within the Latinx community and today’s society over what is Latinx.

Panelists

Hillary Boyzo

Hillary Boyzo is a senior at Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy. She joined F.L.Y Pittsburgh in 2020 as a way to invoke change and allow her voice to be heard. Now she is the leader of the program where she unites Latinx youth and helps them with their activism and passion for change in the Latinx community. Hillary hopes to pursue a career in nursing after she graduates high school.

Luna Plaza

Luna is a senior attending Pittsburgh CAPA. I'm an actress, dancer, and an Asian-Hispanic activist and visionary here in Pittsburgh. She recently joined Casa San Jose's F.L.Y program this year and I'm looking forward to working with them to help my Latino community. Luna hopes to continue to do the important work after graduation and would like to pursue clinical psychology, specializing in eating disorders and fighting mental health stigma.

Sophia Gonzalez

Sophia Gonzalez is a present senior and member of F.L.Y. A Spanish/Brazilian-American, she joined in early 2021 in hopes of aiding the Latinx community and making Pittsburgh a welcoming place for everyone. She plays tennis regularly, loves to build legos and work on puzzles, and is studying for a career in medicine.