From March through November, KYCC’s MYPARC Leadership Program hosted a 10-month hybrid internship guided by the Youth Participatory Action Research framework, that allows high school students to enhance their leadership, advocacy, and research skills to promote community wellness and a safe environment at MacArthur Park.
The participating 10 youth interns engaged in weekly workshops covering a range of topics including civic engagement, prevention education, the history of the War on Drugs, and financial literacy. During the civic engagement segment of the internship, interns gained insights into their local government structure and had the opportunity to deliver public comment during a simulated City Council meeting. Throughout the internship, youth also participated in educational field trips to the Science Center, The Getty, and City Hall, where they had the opportunity meet Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez of Los Angeles City Council District 1.
The internship’s primary focus was the development of their own research project to address the issue of hazardous tobacco and cannabis waste at MacArthur Park. Conducting approximately 100 public opinion surveys within the community, interns analyzed the gathered data and used their findings to create educational materials and devise intervention strategies aimed at resolving these issues. These projects not only served as a valuable learning experience for the interns, but also had a broader impact on the Westlake community.
“I decided to join this internship because of the many opportunities it provided and through this internship I have been able to develop my leadership and advocacy skills while also being involved with the community,” says Katie Kim, a MYPARC intern.
This internship left a lasting impact as it engaged and retained 10 local youth residents, aged 13-18 within the Westlake community. The experience of the youth became a catalyst for empowerment, instilling the belief that these young individuals possess the capacity to drive positive change within their community. The organized activities led by the interns were able to resonate with 100 MacArthur Park community members. This outreach underscored the program’s ability to create meaningful connections and extend its influence beyond the immediate participants, fostering a sense of community engagement and change-making.
Thank you to program and event partners Mujeres de la Tierra, LA Commons, Levitt Pavillion Los Angeles, and Department of Recreation and Parks, Pico-Union Neighborhood Council and Westlake North Neighborhood Council and the local businesses who helped elevate the efforts and voices of our youth interns.
Funding for this program was provided by Sierra Health Foundation and Elevate Youth California Proposition 64.
