Mami, Papi and me

In this latest installment from Philly Youth Radio, Shayla Torres talks about leaving her safe place, her grandparents’ home, for the unknown territory of a college in northwest Pennsylvania.

Everybody has a safe place, or at least should have one. Somewhere to let your hair down and just recharge. In the series “Teen Sanctuaries,” Philly Youth Radio asked students to show us their safe spaces.

Shayla Torres shared her ambivalence about leaving the safe haven of her grandparents’ home for the unknown territory of a college in northwest Pennsylvania.

Shayla is a recent graduate of Community Academy of Philadelphia, where she was a multicultural student ambassador, president of Aspira, and Philadelphia Youth Commission member. She is a second-year veteran of Philly Youth Radio and a member of Generation PRX’s Youth Editorial Board.

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Shayla likes going to the movies, getting the best deals for amusement park tickets, and holding down second base in softball. She will be attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania this fall where she plans to study pre-med to eventually become a general surgeon.

About Philly Youth Radio

In the spring of 2011, Philly Youth Radio was created by Yowei Shaw with the support of Asian Arts InitiativeWHYY’s Hamilton Public Media Commons, and the Leeway Foundation in response to the alarming level of school bullying and bias-based violence experienced by students in the city of Philadelphia.

Philly Youth Radio works with local high school students to produce radio stories that matter to them. Participants gain experience in story pitching, interviewing, field recording, script-writing, and voicing. Philly Youth Radio is currently raising money on Indiegogo for another series of youth radio workshops, that will take place this fall and focus on telling stories about love and relationships.

To find out more go to their website. If you are interested in volunteering or supporting the group, please visit the How to Get Involved section on their website.

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