Young people informing their community about environmental problems, presenting about their experiences with dual credit classes in high school, and organizing field trips to a local college – all of these are aspects of leadership modeled by youths from neighborhoods that outsiders often claim don’t value education. This group of 20 youths launched a campaign to inform the community and to present testimony to the city council and the county commissioners on the issue of environmental justice. See the related article, “Youths in Action – Intergenerational Leadership,” by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. at: http://budurl.com/IDRAnlMy16a

1. Youth In ActionYoung people informing their community about environmental problems, presenting about their experiences with dual
credit classes in high school, and organizing field trips to a local college – all of these are aspects of leadership modeled
by youths from neighborhoods that outsiders often claim don’t value education. This group of 20 youths launched a
campaign to inform the community and to present testimony to the city council and the county commissioners on the
issue of environmental justice.
See the related article, “Youths in Action – Intergenerational Leadership,”
by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed. at: http://budurl.com/IDRAnlMy16a

2. Young leaders help collect trash
in the neighborhood

3. Young leaders
went to the
sources of the
noxious gasses
plaguing their
communities
Checking out the water
treatment plant that is
creating bad odors for their
neighborhoods are Bricieda
Cosino, Victor Molina, Yajaira
Gonzalez, Noah Santana,
Andrea Guzman, Ariss
Cosino, Ramiro Salas, Abril
Cosino and Alejandro Salas.

4. Young leaders met with the sanitation department
They collaborated to have more comprehensive trash and garbage pick-up in the colonias

5. Young leaders planned community activities

6. Their plan included house visits, talking with
parents and presenting to city councils and
county commissioners
Yajaira Gonzalez, Bricieda Cosino and Yajaira Gonzalez present their plan to their peers and ARISE families.

7. The Odor Log
This instrument was used to record the responses of families
affected by the stagnant water and the sewer plant.

8. Planning more environmental justice activities

9. “Do you ever notice a foul odor
around South Tower?”
Flier used to inform the community

10. Surveying their community
Ariss Cocino and Ramona Casas conduct a survey with colonia residents and
disseminate information about the environmental pollution in the neighborhood.

11. Appealing to the Alamo City Council
Bricieda Cosino, Andrea Guzman, Lizbeth Ramos, Abril Cosino, Yajaira Gonzalez, Ariss Cosino and
Lupita Perez present findings and make requests of the elected officials.

12. Another city council presentation
Young, courageous advocates for healthy communities.

13. Continuing to help keep public spaces clean

14. Intercultural Development Research Association
Dr. María “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, President & CEO
5815 Callaghan Road, Suite 101
San Antonio, Texas 78228
210-444-1710 • contact@idra.org
www.idra.org
Ensuring that educational opportunity and success
for all students are guaranteed
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