Good Afternoon,
My name is Nelselly Alsina. I am a senior at Central Catholic High school. I am accompanied by Isabella Saldarriaga. This afternoon Isabella will be translating in Spanish.
We are a product of Lawrence. We were born and raised in this gorgeous city. Many outsiders would feel bad for us, forgetting the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect city.
We are aware drugs and violence are present in our city, but this does not define who we are as a community.
The creativity and hard work of the people is being ignored as a result of the stereotypes. Our city is full of opportunities that many people don’t notice because they are being blinded by these stereotypes.
For example, we have had the opportunity to be part of programs such as Adelante at the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, and even raise funds for an orphanage in the Dominican Republic called Casa Hogar. Now, these are not the only programs that exist, there is also Lawrence Youth Council, Essex Art Center, and Groundwork Lawrence just to name a few.
Although there is a lot of poverty and bad influences in our city, parents, and adults in general, are doing everything possible to educate and fill the youth with culture. There are many more young people focused on their futures and a positive change as opposed to out in the streets doing bad things.
We are the daughters of immigrants who came looking for a better future. Being very small we had already been exposed to the difficulties of a working class.
Lawrence has not only offered employment to our parents but it has also offered us a great education. We have had the privilege of attending public schools, charter schools, and private schools which has never changed the way we see our beautiful city.
In these schools we have grown not only physically but also intellectually. We have learned things from ethics to ways of growing and living in the real world full of difficulties as well as opportunities.
We as well as those of you present, and many who could not attend, are proof that there are good and passionate people in Lawrence. We are kind, generous, full of culture, but most of all we take part in creating a united community.
We know that very soon our city will change for the better. Every day there are more young people and adults that want to make a positive change. And every day there are more young people wanting to go ahead with their futures, studying, going to college, starting companies, creating organizations, and much more.
We will soon show the world, not just our neighboring communities, who we are. We will show them that we are good people with goals, and most importantly that we are a close knit community with dreams of moving forward.
