Our fight for restorative justice

Latino Equality Alliance will engage young people in Montebello Unified School District & East Los Angeles College to combat the criminalization and incarceration of Queer and Trans youth of color in the communities of Southeast LA who engage in substance use. We will mobilize young people to lead the conversation on how social determinants of health impact young, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ people around substance abuse. We will promote restorative practices in schools and cities to see substance use as a mental health concern rather than criminal activity. We believe that it is more important and effective for our communities to have access to substance use education and support networks that reach the needs of our young people. The project will culminate in a community mural project that will depict the intersectionality of queer/trans identities, mental health, substance use and overall health equity. For more information on how to get involved, please contact our Program Coordinator, Angel Elizalde (angel@somoslea.org).