AAOP has been a young person-led, mostly femme and queer-led organization since 2016 and while you may have met staff and young leaders in community events, while volunteering for canvassing or even in the past, who are the people behind AAOP? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be re-introducing AAOP staff! Get to know who is part of AAOP, our likes and dislikes, experiences and stories.
Next up is Clara, Youth Program Manager!
Favorite Part of Your Role: The creative, intelligent, and inspiring young people that I work with. I am always learning from them and am incredibly grateful for the initiative that so many have taken to shape the youth program, guide our work, and take action to affect the change that they believe in.
Least Favorite Part of Your Role: Grant writing and reporting
What inspires your work? The philosophy of education for liberation. The idea that education doesn’t have to be for the purpose of funneling youth into the labor force; it can challenge capitalism, heteropatriarchy, imperialism, etc. and be the seed that builds the critical consciousness necessary to change our society, political system, and economic system. Education can empower young people to critically engage with issues that impact their communities and to imagine and build a more just reality.
Life motto or quote that inspires you: YOLO
Share a story or a memorable moment that happened while at AAOP: What is most memorable to me is all the in person socials that we had pre-COVID with our program leaders. Some memories that come to mind are fearing for my life while playing canoe tag with OFs and Youth, playing picture telephone and drawing an avocado looking penguin, and the overall spirit of competitiveness that came out during team games.
Testimonies from other staff:
First impression: Wow, she really likes rice. – Jeffrey
Clara’s critical thinking and analysis of big picture problems always impresses me. I love the way she problem-solves and works to empower youth. Not only that, but she is a fun and motivated person to work with. I enjoy the energy that she brings to the (virtual) room! – Michelle
Clara is an incredible and thoughtful leader and youth organizer. Her advocacy to ensure youth have a good balance in community organizing, work, school and personal time is critical for our young people’s resilience in the struggle. – Linda
I know I can always count on Clara to bring in the tough questions and critical analysis. She’s so thoughtful and smart and her ability to juggle all the different projects and her personal life is astounding. – leyen
Clara has been one of the best life mentors I’ve ever had. Yes we work together and technically isn’t named my mentor, but she has been one of the greatest and only mentor I’ve ever had. She is such a great listener and really good at being there for me during my hard times. Clara is also someone who makes you feel really safe to talk to. She loves anything cute and I personally think she dress really well too. She’s also someone who’s very empathetic. Like you can cry and she will start crying too. I’ve been with AAOP since the start of my high school year and I’m now in college and Clara has been with me through every step of the way. If anyone has ever prepped me for adulthood it would have to be Clara. She’s also really good with taking all of my jumbled words and thoughts and make them be more clear and organize even to me. Overall really grateful to have her in my life. I think one of my happiest moment was when she finally got herself a cat and also lived in NYC for that one whole month in September because ever since I met Clara she’s been wanting to do those things forever. And finally the pandemic hit, and she finally did it!! Clara is also exploring a lot more of what she wants to do now that’s joyful and fun for her, and I’m always really happy for her whenever she’s trying these new things out. Like she’s taking a ceramics class and baking cookies which was really good. – anonymous