Translators of Cultures Youth as Leaders

TOC Youth leadership program provides immigrant and refugee students with competence, confidence and growing commitment to become leaders, while helping our youth to maintain their cultural identity and keep pride in their cultures, and in their parents’ cultures.

Discussions and activities in this program target the following skills: Leadership, Initiative, Creativity, Responsibility, Confidence, and Public speaking.
TOC leadership training prepares minority youth to become volunteers and & do community outreach.
In 2017/2018 (pre-COVID time), TOC students initiated two significant projects, “Parade of Cultures” in partnership with Augustana University and “Community United” in collaboration with the Bishop Dudley House.

The data from the program illustrates that the majority of the participants increased their leadership skills, their confidence, and got involved in the SF community. (81 % – more confident; 85% – increased their level of initiative; 74% became more confident as public speakers).
Since 2019, the quarantine made it difficult for non-profit organizations to continue meetings on the school grounds.
We shifted our focus: continued meetings in the community; helping parents and families with protective gear and food items, etc.

Eulalia and Katherine

TOC student leaders became scriptwriters and actors in five documentary films, such as “Coming Together”, which focused on students’ stories, and their ways of dealing with new challenges, such as pandemic, and engaging in social issues, such as diversity and inclusion.

We are currently completing a new film “Bringing Diversity Downtown Sioux Falls”, which celebrates youth, fashion, and cultures.

Translators of Cultures youth leaders are exploring new opportunities of creating stronger relationships with the SF community and the SF community leaders.

We are currently launching a new TOC Youth Initiative “STARS” (Students’ Training, Achieving Roadmap to Success”. Twelve community leaders, including the Sioux Falls Mayor, Mayor TenHanken, have been invited to become presenters in this new TOC initiative. Paticipants will learn how to aspire to be a community leader, achieve professional goals, find the right mentor, and overcome challenges and failures, as well as regain optimism and keep their dreams intact.
The STARS initiative will be launched on December 29, 2021 and will continue through January and February.
Over the years, we have engaged hundreds of students and their families.