Advot.org proudly announces another success story!
The Californer/10312378

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- Advot.org proudly announces another success story! Using artistic exploration, Advot teaches youth vital communication and relationship-building skills—empowering them to become courageous self-advocates.

On September 24th 2014, Merced Velez celebrated her 15th birthday in a probation lock-up facility  incarcerated at the young age of 14, at first Merced struggled to advocate for herself effectively. However, after participating in Advot's Ripple program, Merced was able to find her voice and make meaningful connections with mentors and role models that not only guided her through her lockup time, but also inspired Merced to continue her education.

Today, Merced works in a law firm in Los Angeles and will graduate from Cal State Pomona in May 2025. Her time with Advot instilled in Merced the belief that her voice matters. Like many other Advot Alum, Merced knows that she holds the power to shape her destiny.

More on The Californer

• City of Long Beach Awarded $2.6 Million in State Funding to Expand Youth Employment Opportunities
• Innovative EDM Music Project, "Terms of War," Depicts an A.I. Takeover of Earth
• California: Here's how Trump's illegal military deployment weakens firefighting resources – already strained by his dangerous U.S. Forest Service cuts
• THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF SAN FRANCISCO APPOINTS ERIC THUAU AS ITS NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL
• Project Home Draws Up a Blueprint for Hope on Documentary Showcase

"Ending up in jail could have made my life tough, but joining the Advot program changed everything," says Merced. "Advot helped me see that I could do great things.

Released early for good behavior, Merced eagerly embraced Advot alumni programs, participating in plays and other artistic outlets, making connections and gathering an important support system to help stay on the path to success. Advot was her anchor, empowering her with the life skills to pursue her dreams.

"The program showed me how to keep learning and growing so that I could have a prosperous future." Merced adds, "Thanks to Advot, I started believing in myself and worked hard to get accepted into a university. It helped me turn my life around."

"I always tell our students: Never believe you are less—because you are always, ALWAYS more. Merced is living proof of that truth. You can change. You can grow. No matter where you come from. You can step into spaces you once thought were beyond your reach—and belong there fully." – Naomi Ackerman – Founder /Executive Director.

More on The Californer

• California: Governor Newsom pre-deploys safety resources ahead of anticipated demonstrations
• TEAM HUSSLE: The Unstoppable Duo Redefining the Sound of the Streets
• City of Long Beach to Celebrate Grand Reopening of Martin Luther King Jr. Park Pool
• Celestix Launches InstaSafe Zero Trust on Microsoft Azure Marketplace
• Governor Newsom: Trump handed over Californians' personal information to Homeland Security, a dangerous violation of privacy

ABOUT ADVOT

Advot uses the power of artistic exploration to empower young people to find their voice and grow into courageous and effective self-advocates.

Meaning ripples in Hebrew, Advot uses their ground-breaking Ripple Method to teach thousands of young people vital communication and relationship-building skills, inspiring them to overcome the barriers in their lives and to create ripples of change in their communities.

Listen to Advot Podcast: Thursdays in Juvie: featuring Merced Velez

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0E45zieLWLC2s7xBSnhyi9?si=969b3c4243ca486d

More Information on ADVOT

https://www.advot.org/