The Tierra Amarilla Youth Brigades-Leadership Institute was founded in 1989 and continue today.  The Youth Leadership Institute symbolizes the creation of a community where Mexicana/o youth can learn their history, practice their culture, develop their land and play an active role in transforming society.  From the beginning, the sense of community is created as youth and teachers from different places meet each other and share in developing camp rules, organizing into work crews and setting up their tents and recreational activities.  The distinction between students and teachers as well as men and women was transformed as we all play an equal role in activities, fostering a mutual relationship, between all individuals in the camp.

 

Our daily schedule begins with a long hike at dawn.  Following breakfast the chore crew begins their duties cleaning the washrooms, doing dishes, gathering firewood and picking trash.  After chore crew, we have a break and work projects begin.  Work projects consist of clearing out a space for a park picnic area, creating new trails around camp, adding a new roof to an older structure, and building wall on the first Calmecac/University structure.

 

In the afternoons there are a variety of class sessions. Classes include Nahuatl philosophy, La Mujer, Critical Educational Theory, Contemporary Mexican History, Mexican Revolution and the history of the Chicano Movement.

 

Through discussion, work and play we call into question the economic social and political conditions that Mexican youth face today.  We created alternatives to this reality and began to share our experiences, learn our history, work side by side equally as women and men, struggle through difficult challenges and otherwise make our own history.  

It is truly a wonderful experience.