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Module 3: Building Youth Power Through Healing

How can young people from different backgrounds and experiences work together to make positive changes in their communities?copy section URL to clipboard

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“Racism is not just what we see. We also feel it in our bodies…. Racism hurts us physically, emotionally, and mentally. To envision a future without racism, it’s important to think about our bodies.”

– Tin Santos, California for Justice

Tin Santos is a member of Californians for Justice (CFJ), a statewide youth-led organizing group that is trying to fight for racial equality and better schools for people in lower-income communities. As a Filipino American who has worked with diverse young people, Santos understands that racism is not just about the unfair or unkind things we see people do or say. It can also affect how we feel inside, both in our hearts, bodies, and minds.

For example, when someone is treated unfairly because of their race, it can make them feel significant stress, sadness, or fear. That stress can even make their body feel sick over time. Santos believes that if we want to imagine a world without racism, we need to think about how racism affects people’s whole selves—not just what happens on the outside, but also how it makes them feel and how it impacts their health. His call is a reminder that fighting against racism is not just about changing laws and behaviors, but also about making sure people feel safe, respected, and healthy in every way.

This module discusses the significance of healing justice and how youth organizing groups, like Californians for Justice (CFJ), Khmer Girls in Action (KGA), and other groups work together. Their focus is on improving the lives of young people who have a history of marginalization.

What is healing justice?

What kinds of spaces help young people feel supported and heard?

How might students promote healing justice in their own lives, at school, and in their community?

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