Attention youth 14 – 18, parents, and Worcester County Youth Organizations!
The YWCA is expanding our YWeTalk Community Conversation series to center youth voices!
This unique opportunity will offer youth a platform to engage in enlightening conversations with community activists in a shared learning space.
Every activist looks different, has different motivations, achieves different goals, and collectively works towards creating change. The primary purpose of this event is to give young people a space to be heard and learn about different forms of activism.
When: August 8, 2024| 4:30pm-6:30pm
Where: YWCA, 1 Salem Sq, Worcester MA
Registration
We warmly invite individual youth and their families to RSVP using the “Register as an Individual” link below. Youth organizations in Worcester County are encouraged to RSVP using the “Register as an Organization” link to bring their participating youth to our event. We look forward to welcoming you!
If you have questions, please contact lekstrom@ywcacm.org.
Facilitators:
| Levi Ekstrom Race & Gender Equity Advocate |
Craig Mortley
DEI Training Coordinator
Featured Activists:
Giselle Rivera-Flores
Giselle Rivera-Flores is a digital media strategist, writer, and podcaster focused on the complexities of the Afro-Latina experience in America. Her reflective writing collective, Hispanic-ish, is hosted on Substack and centers on the duality of the Latino community while addressing core concepts of day-to-day life. As the co-host of Don’t Touch My Podcast, she continues the dialogue with powerful information to help expand future conversations, increase cultural knowledge, and provide insight into a world unseen. Giselle is currently working on a book titled Girl, Nothing is Going Right, Go Left, which pays homage to womanhood and the importance of pivoting. She is the Director of Communications for MA State Senator Robyn Kennedy.
Guillermo Creamer
Guillermo Creamer Jr. is a known community member in Worcester, serving as a human rights commissioner and having run for mayor. His dedication to the community is evident through his leadership of two major citywide projects in his capacity as a community liaison. Guillermo’s passion for social justice extends to his national advocacy work as the co-founder of Pay Our Interns (POI). Under his leadership, POI has secured over $150 million to ensure interns receive fair compensation. This groundbreaking work has resulted in significant programs, including those in Congress and the White House, offering paid internships. In addition to his professional achievements, Guillermo is deeply invested in his local community. He resides in Worcester with his husband and their beloved cat, Shakira. His personal and professional life reflect his commitment to equality, justice, and the betterment of his community. Guillermo’s efforts continue to inspire many, making a lasting impact both locally and nationally.
Joshua Croke
Joshua Croke is a mixed-medium artist and designer. They work at the intersections of design, community, and queer urbanism. Josh’s mission is to make queer a joyful norm. Their design work focuses on community engagement, creative placemaking, and expressive arts like fashion and music. As a queer urbanist, Josh is committed to redesigning communities for justice and liberation, advocating for inclusive spaces that uplift marginalized people. As an artist, they challenge social constructs and seek to provoke discussions around gender fluidity and queer identity. Josh founded Action! by Design, a consulting studio that brings about equity-centered change for neighborhoods and cities. They are also the co-founder and president of Love Your Labels, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ youth through art, fashion, and design. Josh currently serves as the Springfield Fellow for MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development initiative, supporting equitable community and economic development across the Commonwealth. Their newest project, “Queer For Cities”, focuses on telling queer stories and helping redesign communities into inclusive places. Josh also sits on the board of the Worcester Education Collaborative because they believe that equitable education will shape a more joyful, sustainable, and liberated world.
Isiah Tucker
Isiah Tucker brings over 20 years of professional Social Work experience to IVOC. He provides clinical services and support to a diversified population of youth and families throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Isiah has a Master of Social Work degree from Springfield College and an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Fitchburg State University. Group therapy, individual – 1on1 psychotherapy, family therapy, support networking, clinical case management, and behavior modification are all well within Isiah’s scope of practice. Isiah’s clinical approach is guided by a strength-based, client-centered framework.
As a former school-based, behavioral health clinician and former Social Worker for the Department of Children and Families, Isiah has experience working with limited resources. Isiah is motivated to create chances for young people to use their natural strengths and skills. Utilizing said skills as a therapeutic tool to express themselves and build additional strengths along the way is the key.
