Calafia 2023 - The following pages bring to life the culmination of hard work and reflection as they’ve captured their one-of-a-kind experiences. Their voices come alive on paper as living, breathing records of their journey, thoughts, and emotions. From discovering the meaning of advocacy in one’s community to breaking the undisturbed silence of cultural taboos, we, as readers, are transported to their realities, collectively left to wonder: What does it truly mean to be an advocate? How can I succeed when faced with a barrage of systemic barriers? How can I “be myself” when society won’t accept me?
