There is a quiet moment many of us experience when we look at ourselves either through a mirror or on a screen and question what if what we see is "enough"; enough to be accepted, to be seen, to belong.
Reclaiming our Reflections came to life from that tension. As a project, it focused on supporting BIPOC youth in building body confidences, resilience and a stronger sense of identity through culturally affirming media. But beyond the infographics, content and outreach, this experience became something much more personal. Throughout this experience, I learned that challenges youth face around self image are not just individual struggles but struggles shaped by larger systems such as representation gaps, societal expectations and the subtle ways we have been taught to shrink ourselves to fit in.
At the same time, I saw how powerful it can be when we challenge those narratives. Even in the "smallest" ways from affirmations to conversations or even as far as creating space for youth voices, a shift can happen. This experience pushed me to grow, from navigating personal challenges, limited responses from organizations and the realities of building something from the ground up taught me resilience in a way that no plan or outline could. I learned how to adapt, how to keep going and how to trust the value of work even when progress felt slow.
One of the biggest takeaways for me is that impact doesn't always look immediate or visible, sometimes it's in the quiet reach; the person who reads something and feels seen or the message that stays with someonle longer than we'll ever know. Moving forward, I see this work as part of something bigger. Creating culturally affirming, culturally grounded spaces for youth is not a one-time project but a necessary and ongoing one.
You can help continue spreading this work. By sharing the infographic with our community, your friends or someone who needs this reminder. Let's keep creating spaces where youth feel seen, affirmed and confident in who they are.
