Convivir Colorado: Juntos, Vamos a... Collective Poem

This story product comes from CEC awardee Convivir Colorado. Convivir is dedicated to supporting the positive mental health development of immigrant youth in Colorado. The Westwood neighborhood in the county of Denver reports low scores in most social determinants of health, with the highest contrast in its education realm at 1.79 below state average. That’s why it was particularly important to better understand the experiences of the newcomer students at a middle school in Westwood.

They had much to discuss when faced with the prompt of their country of origin, their current experiences, and their dreams for the future. Given each of their unique migration journeys, it was beautiful to watch them find deep connections among each other when they would normally be told to stay quiet about immigration.

The result was an opportunity for youth to dig deeper into their personal identities and understand their relationship to two countries, two cultures, and intergenerational aspirations for a better life. In this particular activity, students created a shared poem representative of their reflections and highlighting the power of collective storytelling to bring awareness to the rich culture and bright hopes of the youth in the neighborhood.