LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
NOVEMBER 15, 2025
It's been nearly three years since we held our very first Los Angeles Camp at The Beehive, a moment that sparked so much hope and unity.
Since then, the city has endured growing threats that continue to shake our communities. Immigrants have faced terrifying ICE raids that rip families apart, while stories of inhumane conditions inside detention centers have left lasting scars. Yet through it all, Los Angeles has refused to be silent. The city's defiance through protests has been seen and felt around the world.
Meeting the moment, we were proud to host an immigration-rights-focused CAMP at Edward R. Roybal Learning Center high school in Los Angeles. More than 500 students from Roybal Learning Center and neighboring high schools across the district came together for a transformative day of empowerment. Through engaging educational lectures, they gained vital tools to stand up against the systems that threaten their communities.
Some of them included presentations on using Art as a tool of resistance with KYRC mainstay Brandan Bmike Odums, with local Los Angeles multi-media artist Claudia Ramos, utilizing college educational opportunities with immigrant-led education-based non-profit ImmSchools, careers in technology with The Hidden Genius Project, understanding Los Angeles' history of Black and Brown communities with Guadalupe Carrasco Cardona, and immigration rights with KYRC Autopsy Initiative Program Director Nicole Martin and KYRC Podcast co-host Diana (Di) Barbadillo.
Following the presentations, a panel discussion on the impact of immigration raids was hosted by KYRC Podcast co-hosts Amir Whitaker and Diana (Di) Barbadillo, legal representative for KIND(Kids in Need of Defense), Iris J. Franco, and Human Rights First Director of Refugee Representation Farida Chehata.
The day was filled with joy and meaningful connections as students built community while fellowshiping through heartfelt moments of being seen and heard.
We were deeply honored to stand alongside the dedicated staff of Roybal Learning Center, the compassionate administrators of the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the incredible volunteers who showed up from both near and far. Their collective support made this day possible, transforming vision into action and reminding us of the power that comes when a community unites for its youth.
That doesn't even count our gratitude and appreciation for KYRC co-founders Colin & Nessa, staff, volunteers and presenters at KYRC Los Angeles 2025: Brandan 'BMike' Odums and Claudia Ramos (Art), the team at ImmSchools (Education), Nicole Walters (Financial Literacy), Dr. Lupe Carrasco Cardona (History), Nicole & Di (Legal Rights), Diana Diaz Madera (Mental & Physical Health) and The Hidden Genius Project (Technology).
