Little Manila Rising hosted its 4th annual Youth Convention in person at San Joaquin Delta College last Saturday. This year’s theme was “Rooted in the Mud: Tending the Soil of our Community.”
Bianette Perez, Youth Programs Director at LMR, said the theme was chosen to highlight Stockton’s history and its connection to Mudville, the city’s former name.
“The youth came up with every concept of it all,” Perez said. “They went with roots in the mud because, within the youth program, they participated in workshops where they learned about the history of our city, so they really wanted to elevate that history of ‘we’re rooted here in Stockton.’ ”
To carry the theme into the event, attendees received a small leaf clip at sign-in to wear on their head as a symbol of a seed being planted that would continue to grow.
“At first, I felt like the Pikmin video game characters, but I actually appreciate the meaning and how it ties into the theme they have going on,” Stockton resident Marissa Chavez said.
The convention’s hub was in Danner Hall, where activities included bracelet making, bag stamping, a Stockton community mural, and a photo booth. Community organizations such as the San Joaquin Pride Center, ChangeIST, and LMR cohorts set up booths to share resources and offer prize wheel giveaways.
“We are out here first to be a community, but also to connect others to resources. You cannot grow by yourself; you have to do it with others, so we are here trying to uplift everyone else’s voices while also trying to show others that we provide platforms to elevate theirs,” said Diana Sandoval, Youth Outreach Coordinator for the San Joaquin Pride Center.
Workshops started in the morning and quickly became the heart of the convention. Youth participants designed the sessions themselves, choosing topics that reflected both personal and community challenges. Classes ranged from storytelling through photography to healing hopelessness and immigration, with conversations continuing late into the afternoon.
For attendees, the youth-led approach stood out. Sacramento resident Yamilesh Robles said she came to support her cousin, who was one of the speakers.
“I love how the speakers had knowledge about what they were talking [about] and how the audience was engaged and sharing their own experiences and showing why it was important to speak and share—creating that domino effect of confidence in others to share,” Robles said.
Others said the convention was a chance to look toward long-term change. Stockton resident Lucas Blaydes said he wanted to learn more about the community and resources available but also appreciated hearing directly from young people about their vision for a better world.
“I don’t see the general direction from those in power to build a better world in general for this generation and the generations following. So with events like this that help better the community, it’s great to see they want to make a change and leave things better than they were found,” Blaydes said.
Ariella M. Serrano, a Youth Initiative member and organizer, explained that the workshop themes were created through a youth-led process rooted in collaboration and reflection.
“Youth worked together to shape the theme based on our lived experiences, interests, and understanding of our community’s cultural roots and struggles. Topics reflected what spoke to us personally, but also broader issues youth face today—socially, community-based, and intergenerational. It allowed us to lead with authenticity while staying rooted in this year’s focus on healing, history, and collective care,” Serrano said.
Many of the speakers came from within Little Manila Rising’s Youth Programs and partner groups like Nopal Stockton’s Liberation School, with youth leading the discussions themselves. Each workshop leader was selected for their passion and personal connection to the subject matter. “It was about creating space for youth to teach and lead from care,” Serrano added.
Nearly 100 people attended this year’s convention, bringing together young people, families, and community members. Free food from Tepa’s Taqueria, journals, stickers, and a full event itinerary helped set a welcoming and nourishing tone. Attendees also left with handmade items from the interactive activities, like painted bags and bracelets.
For Serrano, the leaf clip attendees wore tied the event’s symbolism together. “To me, they represented how youth in Stockton and all over are growing through the challenges they face, both individually and together. Everyone who wore or saw the sprouts could interpret them in their own way: as a sign of solidarity, relationship-building, or tending to the soil of our communities or ourselves,” Serrano said. “Just like it’s sprouting, we’re all part of something evolving, rooted, and alive.”
She emphasized that the most important part of the convention was the sense of grassroots power it fostered. “Being a part of this conference is a reminder that real change doesn’t always happen from the top down. It starts in the grassroots, in the mud, in those most impacted. It means everything to be in a space that holds both our imagination and accountability—one that is rooted, real, and ever-growing.”