It's true, she was a chola! She might still deny it, but she once admitted it to me! Maribel was in a City Terrace crew! "Foo! What do you think a crew is? You were in a gang!", I told her when she shared the story with me. She still runs with crews, only this time it's a crew of like minded leaders that want to empower, and create opportunities for our youth. Maribel realizes that we can't leave it up to our local politicians alone, to solve all our problems. So she took initiative and created a non-profit organization that services our youth (14-25yrs). In The Making in East LA resells gently used clothing donations at a small retail store on Cesar Chavez and in ecommerce markets. Part of their youth training involves reading The Four Agreements, where students learn about stress management and personal growth. ITM team guides youth in the implementation of the four agreements to their daily lives and relationships. Youth also learn sorting, pricing, marketing, branding, clothing reconstruction, community outreach, charity work, event planning and more. Money raised from sales is used to employ local youth to help run the store and support educational/career endeavors. In the Making holds regular meetings with the youth. They invite community leaders and experts to speak and mentor the youth. They break bread, celebrate, and volunteer throughout the community. They build community as they help rebuild our community!
As a school counselor in East LA, I have been praying for an organization like this that I could refer all my students too. An organization that takes ALL youth. Many of the youth I have met at ITM come from broken homes and have been through extremely tough times. 90% are first generation chicanos. MARIBEL and I agreed that their experiences are similar to my own and Maribel’s experience growing up in East LA! I wish I would have had an In the Making and a Goddess mercado when I was growing up!
Can you relate? How can you help? Refer any and all youth in need of mentoring and community. Donate all your gently used clothing and household items to ITM. Come shop for your fabulous outfits at major thrift discounted prices (I now only shop, mostly shop at ITM for my outfits) at 4024 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90063
Come support our student run @thegoddessmercado and @thequeermercado
Please donate ($10- $?) to our YES fund here follow ITM on IG @inthemakingla_boutique check out their website HERE
All money raised is helping create jobs for our youth here in EastLA!
Meet Maribel Valdez- CEO in East LA
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Donate to the YES fund. We hire and empower East LA Youth.
Maribel being honored by Hilda Solis for her unselfish leadership and work with our youth.
Young Maribel
Maribel back in the "days" (tu sabes)!
Maribel and daughter who is currently enrolled in university.
Beauty, brains, fearlessness, and heart!
Thank you Diana! It is an honor to be recognized by you as a youth advocate/supporter. As you mentioned, I wish there was an organization like ITM or The Goddess Mercado when I was young. It would have most likely kept me out of trouble and focused in school. Although I was definitely a poser I do agree my crew now is priceless! It consists of a group of loving, creative, supportive, innovative, forward thinking, like minded individuals that together are helping me create a vision of the change I’d like to see in my community.
I look forward to some day handing the torch of ITM and having it be fully youth lead. I can see it, so I believe it!❤️