By Josh Lee
Staff Writer
The 626 Speak Out team is a youth-led activist organization based in the 626 area focused on spreading awareness about issues relevant in both local and global communities. Originally founded by four students at Mark Keppel High School on Aug. 10 earlier this year, the organization covers topics including the Black Lives Matter movement to sexual harassment and suicide prevention. The four founders, Alina Wong, Joanna Ngo, Keanna Luu and Bailey Nguyen, hope to bring light to social injustice issues as well as take action on unresolved issues in the 626 community.
“I’m passionate about speaking up for topics that affect oppressed communities and also the environment,” general member and freshman Isabel Xu said. “The 626 area doesn’t have a lot of these kinds of organizations, so Speak Out is a good opportunity to be able to project your voice about what needs to be changed.”
The inter-school organization comprises of over 160 members, with more than 870 followers on their Instagram page @626speakout which includes infographics about relevant social issues and information on upcoming or important events. Members come from schools all over the 626 area, with each school having a club and a local representative for the student body. Although a majority youth organization, members also include college students and interested activists of every age.
“In the 626 area, or at least in Temple City, we aren’t really big on talking about issues in our community,” TCHS representative and junior Sonia Martinez said. “Our schools and administration needs to do a better job of educating us about that. As students, we need to go to our administration and say ‘Hey, this needs to happen’.”
626 Speak Out organizes monthly events for local youth activism, with their most recent project taking place during September for National Suicide Prevention Month. On Sept. 23, high school students throughout the 626 community wrote positive messages on cards and arranged them into the shape of a heart on a bridge near MKHS. The group’s current focus is to promote the importance of voting and actively participating in the democratic system. In the future, they plan to continue spreading awareness and growing their outreach.
“You’re given a voice for a reason, and if you have that voice you should be able to use it for good and, especially in our modern day, to help others,” outreach leader and San Gabriel High School junior Jayden Chow said. “It’s especially important to educate yourself, not only just in school but socially as well. You need to be aware of what is happening to other people, not only those around you maybe, but everywhere in the world.”