The YOU Council is LEA’s youth-led leadership and advocacy space where young people turn lived experience into action—using art, public education, and policy change to build safer, healthier schools and communities. This program is focused specifically on students in the Montebello Unified School District (MUSD).
Too often, schools respond to substance use and stress with harsh discipline instead of support. Policies like zero-tolerance can push students out rather than help them heal—especially youth from Latine/x and LGBTQ+ communities who already face barriers, stigma, and unequal access to care.
The YOU Council exists to shift that reality: from punishment to restoration, from silence to visibility, from isolation to community.
Program duration: April 2026 – December 2026
Program Coordinator: Angel Elizalde
Contact: (323) 334-1139 / angel@somoslea.org
In YOU Council / Mind Over Matter, youth can expect to:
Project description
Created in collaboration with community artist Tochtlita (Melissa), the YOU Council’s Traveling Mural amplifies the experiences of Latine/x and LGBTQ+ communities. Through powerful visual symbols, it highlights:
Integrated QR codes connect viewers to a curated list of local resources, including:
Alongside the mural, each YOU Council member will contribute a short personal narrative sharing their journey and lived experience. Together, these stories and a collective call to action are designed to spark dialogue, build empathy, and invite the community into change.
Students and community members are welcome to join mural production sessions at LEA’s Boyle Heights location.
Production includes:
The YOU Council will collaborate with the LEA Club and school administrators to host a community celebration and unveiling of the mural. The event will include:
Survey findings will guide future advocacy and policy efforts through a restorative justice lens to support student success.
Reveal event date/time/location: TBA
This is a traveling mural which will be revealed across various high schools in Montebello Unified School District throughout 2026. Stay tuned for updates!
