Teens coordinated a leadership conference in an effort to network with peers, attend workshops and listen to guest speakers. On Oct. 1 and 2, Mar Vista Family Center’s By Youth for Youth hosted a leadership conference for more than 100 Los Angeles teens. For the 10th Annual conference for the By Youth for Youth Leadership  program, the goal of the weekend was to create a safe space where teens can connect and discuss everyday issues that they may face. 

Friday evening youth came together for a night of networking with their peers as they heard from guest speaker Belita Moreno (The George Lopez Show, Diary of a Wimpy Kid), who inspired teens to join together for a positive change through the conference’s theme: “None of us are as strong as all of us.” Later, teens danced the night away as La Chamba, a youth Latin band from East Los Angeles, performed.

On Saturday teens arrived early to attend workshops that featured community building to increase youth advocacy, traditional Mexican folklorico, college preparation and poetry from Los Angeles historian, Mike the Poet. Radio deejay Raq-C, Raquel Cordova, from Latino 96.3’s morning show and singer/songwriter Lala Romero were the day’s special guest speakers, who challenged teens to chase their dreams through positive visualization.

“I cannot be more proud of the youth who have worked endlessly to coordinate this conference. It is through their desire to reach out to their peers that this event was even a success. The level of participation and enthusiasm seen in each of the teens’ faces makes my job worth every minute,” said Blanca Diaz, youth program director at the Mar Vista Family Center, 5075 S. Slauson Ave. in Culver City.