By Luis Montenegro

The Salesian Family Youth Center and the young leaders of the Saturday’s Oratory of the Saint Dominic Savio Parish recently participated in #ThisGen youth empowerment forum presented by META. The event was held on April 22nd at the Tournament House in Pasadena and was dedicated to youth and young adults between the ages of 16 and 22.

The event featured industry leaders speaking on a variety of thought-provoking panels, including Innovators, Changemakers, and Trailblazers. 

The Host of the event was Christiane Maertens Funder, CEO of DoGoodery, and the panelists for “Innovators” included Matt Hamilton (Investigative Reporter LA Times), Armida Lopez (Filmmaker & Actress), and Stephanie Perea (Senior Producer Niantic). They shared their insights on how innovation and creativity can drive change and empower young people to make a positive impact in their communities.

On the “Changemakers” panel, Josué Arias (Chief Kindness Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside), Dr. Manny Aceves (Chief Program Officer, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation), and Pooja Pelham (Senior of Social Impact, Hello Fresh) discussed their experiences as leaders in their respective fields and how they are working to create positive change in society.

Finally, the “Trailblazers” panel featured Maia Chaka (NFL Official & Founder, MMC), Mariel Gonzalez (Partnership Marketing Director, LAFC), Will Gilmore (Performance Coach, Red Bull APC), and Coleman Shelton (Offensive Guard, LA Rams). They shared their unique journeys to success and offered insights on how young people can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.

The Salesian Family Youth Center and the young leaders of the Saturday’s Oratory of the Saint Dominic Savio Parish were proud to be a part of this inspiring event. By participating in the forum, they gained valuable insights into how they can become agents of change in their communities and make a positive impact on society.

The Salesian Family Youth Center and the Saturday’s Oratory of the Saint Dominic Savio are dedicated to empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential. They believe that events like #ThisGen is essential for creating a platform for young people to connect with industry leaders and learn from their experiences. The Salesian Family Youth Center and the  Saturday’s Oratory of the Saint Dominic Savio Parish are committed to supporting young people in their journey towards becoming leaders and changemakers in their communities.

In conclusion, #ThisGen was an incredible opportunity for young people to learn from and be inspired by industry leaders.