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“My life before Huckleberry was a downward spiral.” – Christina’s Story

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Christina, left, with her mom at Huckleberry’s 2016 Run for the Roses event.

I would not be where I am today if not for Huckleberry. The leadership skills I’ve gained and the relationships I’ve made through Huckleberry have had a huge impact on my life.

My life before Huckleberry was a downward spiral. I was constantly fighting with my mother and getting into trouble in and out of school. My grades were not the only thing slipping. I felt like I was losing control of my life. I decided I had to make some drastic changes before I made bad decisions I couldn’t fix.

I made a move that saved my life; I began to see a Huckleberry therapist. It didn’t take long for me to open up to my therapist and see improvements. My therapist suggested I consider joining a girls’ group offered at Huckleberry. The group helped me build my self-esteem by placing me in leadership roles. Huckleberry helped me shut the door to the negative aspects of my life and encouraged me to find what I was passionate about.

The work that Huckleberry staff did with our group motivated me to give back to my community. After completing the program, I participated in an intensive health education internship with Huckleberry. I officially became a part of the Huckleberry team, and while I worked at the clinic, I co-facilitated groups helping young women in situations like mine.

I truly felt like a leader when I got to plan group, write curriculum, and handle paperwork. I felt responsible in the position I had, and equal to the adult staff. I even got special recognition from SF Mayor Gavin Newsom on the work we did in the Western Addition neighborhood. I still keep in contact with some of the girls and I am happy to see that they have turned their lives around.

During my college years, I became an unofficial health educator in my dorm. My friends knew that I worked at a clinic and constantly asked me for advice, including on contraceptives. Word spread fast that I was the go-to girl for health questions and all of a sudden it seemed like I was giving workshops in the dorm.

Considering my past, I am amazed at the woman and scholar I’ve become. Although I went away to college, I never felt like I left Huckleberry. What I received there has always been with me. As I start a new chapter of my life, I still believe in what Huckleberry does, and I know that they change the lives of many young people, just like me.

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Garnering over 14K followers on Instagram alone, Maddy, known as "MADlines", is an Oakland-based writer, musician, educator, and activist who believes, “our love for one another is more powerful than all the systems conspiring against us.” Whether she’s teaching literary arts workshops to youth both globally and locally, making music, or writing poetry, MADlines has cultivated an influential platform, centered in healing through the power of poetic expression.

Check out MADLines’ most recent column titled, “Why We Must Center Healing in the Movement for Black Lives”, published on KQED: www.kqed.org/arts/13881399/why-we-must-center-healing-in-the-movement-for-black-lives

To learn more about MADlines and her work, please visit: www.madlinesinfo.com/.
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Garnering over 14K followers on Instagram alone, Maddy, known as MADlines, is an Oakland-based writer, musician, educator, and activist who believes, “our love for one another is more powerful than all the systems conspiring against us.” Whether she’s teaching literary arts workshops to youth both globally and locally, making music, or writing poetry, MADlines has cultivated an influential platform, centered in healing through the power of poetic expression.

Check out MADLines’ most recent column titled, “Why We Must Center Healing in the Movement for Black Lives”, published on KQED: https://www.kqed.org/arts/13881399/why-we-must-center-healing-in-the-movement-for-black-lives

To learn more about MADlines and her work, please visit: https://www.madlinesinfo.com/.
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Mar 4

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Happy Women’s History Month! #womenshistorymonth #womensupportingwomen #womeninspiringwomen #womenempoweringwomen

Happy Women’s History Month! #womenshistorymonth #womensupportingwomen #womeninspiringwomen #womenempoweringwomen ...

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BAYACamericorpsBAYAC AmeriCorps@BAYACamericorps·
1 Mar

Krystal Johnson, Classroom Support Specialist at @huckleberrysf Project Ready, wants potential BAYAC Members to know that the BAYAC program "is a great way to experience youth work and have a strong support from a team!"

#membermonday #volunteering #service #youth #education

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"African Americans have 2.3x the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic whites. Regarding COVID-19 while Black Americans represent 13% of the population in the states reporting racial/ethnic info, they account for about 34% of COVID deaths in those states.'"https://tinyurl.com/dsdke45t

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