Storyboard Text
- My name is Naima. I'm an African American Muslim woman and I live in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. The unfortunate go days without food, and there isn't much hope for things to get better.
- Look at that girl walking alone, does she have no friends?
- I know right!
- Why's she wearing that weird thing on her head? What's she hiding?
- I don't fit in with the other kids in the neighborhood and I don't belong to any of the groups...
- The only place I feel like I belong is the corner store. The owner, Mr. Patel, treats me like family.
- Good morning Naima! How have you been? Don't let what the other kids say get to you.
- One day I saw a post on social media that changed things...
- It was an invitation to a group of young people who wanted to make a difference in their community. Despite not having the best experience in my community, I still wanted to do what I could to help it.
- Youth Voices 1PM!
- But when I got there, I was scared. What could I, a poor girl from the ghettos, possibly have to offer? I considered going back home.
- But as we went around in a circle and introduced ourselves, I realized something. We were all different, but we were all the same.
- Ideas:FundraiserCommunity Service
- Let's brainstorm ideas to improve the community!
- Sounds great!
- How about a fundraiser?
- We talked about things we wanted to change, like the lack of jobs, the poor quality of schools, and the hunger in our neighborhoods.
- We should do some community service!
- Sounds great!
- Ideas:FundraiserCommunity Service
- I think a community garden would be a great addition to our city
- Let's get to work!
- Our city needs something like that!
- I suggested we start a community garden. Everyone loved the idea, and we got to work.
- That's a great idea!
- We cleared the lot, planted seeds, and built the raised beds. It was hard work, but it felt good to be working together to do something positive for the community.
- I told Mr. Patel about our garden and he offered to donate some seedlings. He even offered to water them for us when we couldn't be there.
- Before long, we had a great harvest. We donated food and the vegetables to the people in the community who needed them most.
- Our garden was a success, but we wanted to make it even better. So we went to a city council meeting to ask for fundings.
- A garden in the community will bring a place of beauty and resources for those in need with the food it will provide. It is just what our city needs to improve.
- Your words have been heard loud and clear Naima, the city will grant the funding needed to finish this beautiful garden you all have been working so hard on.
- The council member listened to us and promised to granted our request. We were glad to be making so much progress.
- Months went by and we continued to work on the garden, it became a symbol of hope in our community. We admired all the work we had done.
- We started to get more volunteers. Even the little kids in the neighborhood wanted to help.
- Soon later I got a notification from the Youth Voices group. There was going to be an awards ceremony for young people making a difference in their communities.
- I never thought I'd be on stage, receiving an award for something I did. But there I was, with my friends cheering me on.
- I realized that being from an African American Muslim doesn't mean you can't make a difference. You just have to find your people and work together.
- The community garden we started is still thriving and we were able to expand it to also serve as a park. It's a reminder that when we come together, we can create something beautiful.
- Then I met a girl named Lila.
- Youth Voices 1PM!
- Hey are you here for Youth Voices too?
- She introduced herself and we walked in together. It felt good meeting another Muslim girl who also wanted to make a difference in the community.
- Youth Voices 1PM!
- I am, wa'alaykumusalam! My name's Lila, you're the first other Muslim I've around here
- Yeah, oh are you Muslim too? Asalamu'alaykum
- My name's Naima, you're the first Muslim I've met around here too
- However, the only empty lot in the area was owned by an old man called Mr. Thompson. He didn't care about the garden and wouldn't give us the lot for a fair price.
- We would really like to build garden here for the community and to help feed those in need.
- The people can starve for all I care! You children should know your place, and your parents should go back to their home countries with you all.
- I told Mr. Patel what had happened and asked about what we should do. He said he can help us start a fundraiser to help buy the lot.
- It felt great being able to help and connect with those in need in our community.
- The fundraiser turned out to be a great success and we were able to buy the lot from Mr. Thompson.
- Fundraiser!
- Before I went home I told Lila I was glad to meet her that day. She was the reason I walked into the first Youth Voices meeting. Meeting another Muslim girl like her helped me get over my fears and make a difference in my community.
- I'm glad to have met you too!
- I'm glad I met you that day, if I hadn't I might not be here right now.
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