Written by Karla Chavez, Summer Youth Organizing Academy Volunteer Photographer 

My name is Karla Chavez and I am a volunteer for the Summer Youth Organizing Academy (SYOA). My job is to take pictures and document everything the SYOA students have and will accomplish. I have been a volunteer for three days. Three days that have taught me lots of important facts about the police department and their involvement with schools, from dreadful statistics such as the 44,000 truancy tickets given to students from 2004-2009, to the dedication and commitment of SYOA's young warriors. Warriors who have the courage to fight for a change and won't let anything stop their rage.

This past Tuesday, July 13th, was my first day organizing out on the buses with the SYOA students. I was a little nervous, but more nervous for the students who have to move from the fear of speaking to a total stranger and attain the confidence to raise awareness about the issue with police at our schools. That is their fear as students, but my fear as a media volunteer was the awkward feeling of snapping a picture of a total stranger without there being any inconvenience and anger in their part. It was hard for most of us to go out there and accept the challenges of organizing, but we are on our way to becoming the best we can be.

On my second day, Thursday July 15th, I believe that everyone felt a little more confident, a little more powerful, and a little more excited to go out on the buses. Being in an organization that is made up of interested and dedicated people from our community, the word needs to be advocated throughout the media to show how we are fighting for a change that benefits all of us and to also invite them to join the fight. With the pictures and videos the media team takes, we are able to get hold of our people with great hope that one day everyone comes together as one to stop the unfair treatment of our black and brown youth.