Josue first started attending YELLS as a ninth grader who hadn’t quite figured out who he was yet. Now, as he enters his senior year, he has grown into a confident young leader, community advocate, and changemaker who is helping shape the future of the neighborhood he calls home.
Over the years, YELLS has given Josue opportunities to discover his strengths, build new skills, and put his ideas into action. And he has consistently stepped up and taken on more and more responsibility as opportunities have been presented to him. He hasn’t just grown as a leader, he has found his voice and learned how powerful it can be.
From Participant to Community Leader
Josue’s leadership journey has taken him into rooms where important decisions are being made about his community. He has attended Marietta City Council meetings, helped bring neighborhood concerns to the attention of local leaders, and even moderated a Town Hall with City Council representatives.
Through these experiences, Josue has helped make sure Franklin Gateway youth and families have a voice in conversations about their neighborhood. His advocacy has received recognition in the Marietta Daily Journal, and he now serves as the youngest member of the Franklin Gateway Park Committee.
As YELLS’ teen representative, Josue will help review and vote on recommendations to be submitted to City planners for the upcoming 10-acre community park. It’s an incredible opportunity to bring the perspectives of young people and neighborhood residents directly into the planning process.
Most recently, he helped lead a community meeting where parents, neighbors, and fellow teens shared ideas and prioritized what they would like to see in the park. From facilitating conversations to encouraging families to bring others into the process, Josue continues to show what it looks like to turn leadership into action.
Leadership Beyond the Neighborhood
Josue’s experiences through YELLS have also opened doors to opportunities beyond Franklin Gateway.
He serves as a youth ambassador for Project VOICE, an initiative with the Wellness Technology Research Lab in partnership with Georgia Tech and MIT. Through this work, he has the opportunity to help elevate youth perspectives and contribute to conversations that reach beyond his own community.
He has also served as a summer intern and reading ambassador with the Cobb Collaborative, helping lead neighborhood playgroups and literacy events. These experiences have allowed him to develop professional skills, connect with new people, and continue finding ways to serve others.
Whether he’s speaking with community leaders, helping younger children discover the joy of reading, or representing youth on a committee, Josue is putting his leadership skills to work in meaningful ways.
Preparing for What’s Next
As Josue approaches graduation, he is beginning to look toward life after high school and the opportunities ahead. The confidence he has developed through YELLS has helped prepare him to take on new challenges, speak up in unfamiliar settings, and see himself as someone capable of making a difference.
Reflecting on what YELLS has meant to him, Josue shared:
“YELLS has given me a safe outlet. It has also helped prepare me for life after high school and navigating college. Thanks to YELLS, I’m more confident. Suddenly a school presentation is easy after leading a Town Hall.”
That growth is exactly what YELLS hopes to inspire in every young person: the confidence to recognize their potential, the skills to pursue their goals, and the desire to use what they’ve learned to uplift others.
From his first days as a ninth grader to his role as a community advocate today, Josue’s journey is a reminder that young people don’t have to wait until adulthood to make an impact. They can lead right now, and their communities are stronger when they do.
We are incredibly proud of Josue and can’t wait to see where his leadership takes him next!
