OUR FOCUS AREAS
Education equity is important to us because, as the first in our families to go to college, we faced this entire process alone. The school system failed to provide the in-depth support we needed. Due to language barriers, our parents were completely excluded from the application process. This further isolates first gens. Due to the lack of equitable information, students are left with the feeling that a post secondary education is unattainable. Casa Azul includes parents in the college application process by providing bilingual advising services which helps students feel more supported.
As the daughters of Mexican immigrants who grew up in the rural south, we did not grow up connected to our culture and heritage. We were only able to attain self-love of our complex bicultural identities until we explored and celebrated our culture outside of Wilson. We are determined to create these spaces so that the youth and the community do not feel like they have to leave in order to connect with their identities. The Latinx community brings cultural wealth to Wilson, the state and the entire country.
Civic engagement is important to us because we have witnessed a lot of injustice towards our community. As daughters of immigrants, we recognize the importance of exercising our rights to speak up for those in our families that can’t. Our personal lived experiences became the catalyst to activate civically and to create the change we wish to see in our community. We are determined to empower our youth to be advocates for their families.
Language justice is also important to us because many times in our childhood, we were our parent’s interpreters. Children should not be interpreters, and systems should have the infrastructure to prevent this abuse of children. We began providing interpretation services in the community because it is the single most important barrier for the Latinx community to seek the help they need.
