Resnick Aspen Action Forum

Central America Leadership Initiative Fellow Leonor Gutierrez is empowering vulnerable youth to live their best lives through TeenSmart, an organization that provides online tools and support they need to make right decisions in difficult situations.
 
AGLN: What is your Action Pledge?
LEONOR GUTIERREZ: My Action Pledge is to provide all Central American youth the tools, information, and motivation they need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
 
AGLN: Who are you trying to reach?
LG: We are trying to reach teenagers who are vulnerable due to poverty, living in dangerous neighborhoods and that lack a family structure that allows them to grow safely. I think that, very sadly, these youth in Central America don’t feel or see the choices they might have. They are not able to make their own decisions in an informed way. They are usually influenced by an environment not ready to provide the best guidance for them.
 
AGLN: Why is this a personal mission for you?
LG: I am really grateful and I love the land that I was born in. I’m a great believer in Central America and feel encouraged to do something for our region, and to work especially for youth.
 
The reason decision making and empowerment are so important to me is because I grew up in a household where having good reflections and discussions was sometimes very challenging. Learning how to make my own decisions and feeling empowered as a Latin American woman to decide about my life, how I want to run my life and who I want to be in this world has been a great challenge, but also a great achievement. That’s what moved me. I’d really like to help our Central American youth know that their lives are theirs and that the future is bright and that there are many things they can do.
 
AGLN: What impact do you hope to see in 20 years?
LG: If we are able to drastically reduce teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, and street violence – if we are able to control them – development and prosperity will be a given. I think those are the big things that are stopping us from eradicating poverty and all the problems that come with it in Central America.
 
AGLN: How do you inspire others to work towards your vision?
LG: Something I found key was to listen first. If I understand what a person is thinking, what a person is aiming for, it’s much easier to convince them it’s a good idea and worth working for. Having a clear vision, being very involved and very persistent are also very important.
 
AGLN: Is there any advice you would give to Fellows working in youth empowerment?
LG: The most important thing when working with youth is being ready to drop your adult-centric beliefs of how the world should work. I think that’s key. Being able to treat youth – person to person – being respectful and making them accountable. That’s the key. Treat them like real people.