February 20, 2018

Mr. Sweet is relatively radical, however you wish to interpret the adjective. Nastacia Warnock knows this first-hand after being in his history class. Towards the end of the last school year, the political attitude in the United States had started to wear down on Hispanic students. Searching for a community outlet, Warnock asked Sweet:

“Why [isn’t there] a Hispanic group [like Unity Club]?”.

He referred her to Ms Danner, not for discipline, but to “pitch” the idea of a Hispanic Students club, and by second semester of this year (2017-2018), the Hispanic Youth Mentor Group (HYMG) had begun.

The mission statement for the club ‘includes sharing culture and strengthening relationships and support for each other as we go through our time together at CK High…It is important that we share our positive and negative experiences, hopes, dreams, and fears. By working together and sharing what we are experiencing, we can provide support for each other in dealing with problems we are facing, and have our collective voice heard here about what we are dealing with here at CKHS and in the larger community.’

Warnock hopes to create an accessible club that will hopefully continue to make a difference in Kitsap through volunteer work and by creating a safe space. Sofia Hanssen-Keller added that these spaces are incredibly important and that she wants to be part of helping other Hispanic families, especially considering Kitsap County doesn’t appear too concerned.

“The Bremerton Health Department just shut down yet another program that helps Latino families with prenatal care, and support groups.”

Considering that in 2015, the median annual household income for Hispanics was $16,000 less than that of white people in America, support within the community is incredibly important (pewhispanic.org). Hanssen-Keller told the Chronicle that help with job interviews would be beneficial, and Warnock stated that she does have some fear that she will not have the same economic opportunities in life as her white peers.

Ultimately, following the initial motivation behind the club, HYMG aims to provide friendships, fun, and support for Hispanic students throughout high school. Networking and support systems are a major influence for the future, and hopefully support from this club will encourage a new generation of Hispanic leadership in the county, country, and world.