Esperanza Soledad Garcia
Esperanza Soledad Garcia
“I am a human being. I am Xicana, 18 years old and my name is Esperanza Soledad Garcia.”
Since high school, Esperanza has been actively involved with Al Frente Del Lucha, an anti-colonial organization dedicated to the struggle for the self-determination and liberation of all oppressed people; YAALL (Young African American & Latinx Leaders), a program is a student led organization that addresses the systemic inequalities in Denver Public Schools that perpetuate the school-to-prison-pipeline through policy reform and education; the International Indigenous Youth Council; and most recently, the Earth Guardians Youth Council.
Esperanza has presented in high schools throughout the Denver, Colorado area educating about micro-aggressions in the classroom and has talked to staff, janitors, teachers and principals about solutions to these problems. With the Young African American and Latino Leaders, Esperanza presented to the Denver Public Schools board and traveled to the Praxis Youth Conference in Tucson, Arizona to speak about dismantling the school to prison pipeline. She’s delivered her powerful spoken word and poetry at many Colorado youth climate strikes, advocating for communities most impacted by the climate crisis to center their needs and solutions.
She writes, “My grandparents inspire me with their resiliency. They are the campesinos, the water protectors, Brown Berets, the botanists and survivors. Their presence and words gives me courage to continue. My group in Denver, Nahui Ollin, is my chosen family, who’ve taught me to do every act with intention. One day, you may be faced with the last act that you do. They guide and protect me always.
“My purpose is to share my life, and to unite people of all regions and colors. I have accepted the challenge that my activism is my life, and I’m in it for the long haul.”
Esperanza recognizes the importance of taking as much time as is required to reflect on the answers and solutions to the many challenges that we face as humanity. She is excited about the challenge, to collaborate with people she has never previously had the opportunity to collaborate with. These are the ways she thinks for herself, what she calls, “the real ways of connection.”
Esperanza has presented at Denver South High School, Culture Fest (Denver, CO), Colorado Youth Climate Strikes, Youth Praxis Conference (Tucson, AZ), Acequia Unidas (Northern, NM), Tierra Amarilla Youth Leadership Camp (Tierra Amarilla, NM), and with the Young African American and Latinx Leaders (Denver, CO).