Help Karla Build Equitable Cities - One Hood at a Time

My name is Karla, and I am a bilingual educator in Upper Manhattan. Earlier this year, I was accepted into three competitive urban planning programs. After careful consideration, I will pursue a master's degree at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and I need your help to get there.

My pivot from education to urban planning comes from the realization that students learn best when they live in empowered neighborhoods with abundant resources. My three years of experience in the classroom have given me insight into the lives of my students and their communities as they navigate the impacts of gentrification and displacement. Despite these challenges, my students remain hopeful. They often speak of desires for better community resources, such as infrastructure improvements, harm reduction for addiction, and safe recreational spaces. However, these ideas rarely come to fruition, as youth are seldom involved in community planning. My student's lack of voice motivated me to pursue this degree. After completing my program, I plan to work in a community organization or municipal planning department to address urban poverty and empower youth and their families to create safe and affordable neighborhoods.

My community work began as a high school student advocating against gentrification in Chicago, which inspired my focus on creating housing justice resources for low-income communities of color. At sixteen, I co-founded the Pilsen Alliance Youth Committee (PAYC) to give youth in my neighborhood a platform. Shortly after its founding, PAYC launched a campaign advocating for zoning change transparency, positioning us at the forefront of the anti-gentrification movement. At community meetings, our proposals were often disregarded due to our age. Only when adult allies amplified our message did the City of Chicago listen. Once our voices were heard, we successfully mobilized the community and dismantled a predatory zoning board. PAYC was the first space in my life where I felt that my ideas mattered. I felt empowered to develop solutions for positive neighborhood change and hope to continue building spaces like this for others.

I'm proud (and still in shock!!) that Harvard has awarded me a scholarship and grant that provides full tuition for the two-year program. However, due to the program's rigor, I won't be able to work while in school. As a first-generation college graduate from an immigrant family, I don't have a financial safety net to fall back on. That's why I'm asking for community support.

Donations will help cover the following:

Additionally you may send funds to my V3nmo/c@shapp: Kdjzuz

This opportunity means so much to me, not just because it's Harvard, but because it's an opportunity for me to obtain the skills I need to continue building the future I want to see—one where children in every zip code can live, play, and learn without fear.

If, like me, you believe in the power of community and education, I hope you'll consider supporting my educational journey. Every donation, share, and affirmation can make a difference in my journey. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity, and thank you all for your support.

In solidarity,

Karla