by Noa Aviles 

Being a young queer person from New York and finding my place in Atlanta proved to be far more difficult than I ever could have anticipated. As a Morehouse student, I am taught the importance of resilience, leadership, and community, but there were moments when those lessons felt impossible to hold onto. I fell more times than I can count, and each time I found a way to get back up. Yet there was one fall that left me feeling hopeless and uncertain of where to turn.

That is when Southern Legal Center for Youth became my village.

Liz, Princess, and Faryn welcomed me without judgment. They listened when I felt unheard, reminded me that I was not as foolish as I believed myself to be, and assured me that I did not have to face my circumstances alone. They helped me understand my options and stood beside me with unwavering compassion during one of the most difficult seasons of my life. While the challenges I faced have not completely disappeared, they gave me something even more valuable than legal support. They gave me hope, stability, and the confidence to believe that resolution was possible because I no longer had to carry the burden by myself.

What makes SLCY extraordinary is that they saw something in me long before I could see it in myself. They recognized my potential as a leader and gave me the opportunity not only to receive support but to give it. They empowered me to move from being a client to becoming someone who could advocate for and serve my own community. That transformation has forever changed the way I see myself and the impact I can have on others.

Without SLCY, I genuinely do not know if I would be here to share this testimony today. Through their guidance, I have discovered a deeper understanding of my own resilience, my purpose, and my capacity to persevere. They reminded me that strength is not found in facing hardship alone but in allowing yourself to be supported by people who truly care.

To every young person searching for a place where they can be seen, affirmed, and fought for, I cannot recommend SLCY enough. They do more than provide services. They build community. They become family. They remind you that you are never alone, and they show you what it feels like to have people who will stand on the frontline beside you every step of the way.