Students Speak: My Experience Attending the UnidosUS Changemakers Conference

By Emelly Chavolla

I recently had the chance to attend the Unidos Sponsored Change Makers conference in Washington, D.C. I was chosen to represent my school, MAAC Community Charter School (MCCS), and it meant a lot to me. I felt really proud to be selected and wanted to make the most out of the opportunity. It’s my second conference I attend to and it was great being able to experience this again.

Before the conference, I did some research on the housing crisis in Chula Vista, California, where I live. I’ve noticed how hard it’s been for many people in my community to afford housing, and I wanted to learn how I could help make a difference. Going into the conference, I was excited to meet others who care about the same issues and learn more about how change can actually happen.

While I was there, I had the chance to speak with Juan Vargas, a United States Representative. It was an amazing experience to talk to someone who actually helps make laws. We also met Senator Adam Schiff, which was really enlightening. Hearing from people who work in government made me realize that even students like me can be part of something bigger.

Besides the conference itself, the whole trip was really exciting. I had never been to Washington, D.C. before, and it was full of new things to see and do. Our principal Tommy Ramirez and Vice Principal Ms. Soto took us around the capital, and we got to visit a bunch of cool places. My favorite place was the Air and Space Museum. It was incredible to see all the exhibits up close—especially the space stuff!

Overall, I had such a great time. I got to meet students from all over the country, learn new things, and got to see parts of the world I had only seen in pictures. I’m really grateful for the chance to go and represent my school. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

From left to right: Adolfo Ventura (Vice President & Chief Programs and Operations Officer, MAAC), Emelly (Student, MCCS), Anahli, (Student, MCCS), Jeremiah (Student, MCCS), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tommy Ramirez (Director, MCCS), Claudia Huerta (Director of Economic Development, MAAC), Andres (Student, MCCS), Mary Soto (Assistant Director, MCCS).

Why Housing Matters to Me

The reason I care about this specific topic is because I’ve seen students without stable housing, and I’ve seen my own family struggle with rent and finding a home. As we watch housing prices soar to unbelievable heights, it’s become clear that something needs to change. My mom is a single mom with three kids, and with no one to help her pay the rent, we’ve had times where we have almost been kicked out of our apartment due to my mom owing money. We’ve had cards delivered to our door saying we have three days to pay the rent or we’re out of our apartment. Me personally, I don’t like seeing my mom struggle with money, especially with my sisters who aren’t even 16 yet.

According to some reports, the average home price in the U.S. is now around $400,000, and in our community, it is more than twice that amount—an amount that is simply out of reach for most of us young people, especially me, who is 18 years old and wants to have a house of her own but makes very little money.

Now, you may ask yourself, what can we do about this situation? Well, there can be many ways. For example, we can have more affordable housing options, the government can take action to regulate the housing market in a way that benefits everyone. We can also expand emergency shelter spaces, especially for families and children. We can also offer more support services like counseling, transportation, and maybe even job assistance for families facing homelessness.

In conclusion, my big focus is on expanding the supply of affordable housing, both for low-income renters and first-time homeowners. The high cost of housing is a barrier for the future of young people and many families.

Support Future Leaders Like Emelly

Emelly’s experience at the UnidosUS Changemakers Conference is a testament to the power of education and community support. MAAC Community Charter School provides transformative opportunities for students to grow, learn, and become the changemakers of tomorrow.

You can help make these experiences possible by supporting MCCS. Your donation can help fund programs that empower students to become leaders, advocates, and agents of change.

Donate today and invest in the future of our students.