**Journey of Solidarity Begins to Raise Awareness for Homeless Youth**
On Monday, the “Journey of Solidarity” commenced in Tijuana at the YMCA Sports Center, aiming to raise awareness about children and teenagers living on the streets. This marks the fourth time activists have undertaken this walk, but it’s the first time the itinerary has included Tijuana. The initiative is spearheaded by Justin Lipford, Director of Community Engagement and Belonging at YMCA San Diego, and David Baker, Director of Youth Systems at YMCA.
The primary goal of this event is to shed light on the plight of homeless youth and gather funds to support programs aiding minors in neglect. “For those watching, let them know we care about everyone, starting with young people. They are our future, and everyone needs to rally around them,” expressed Justin Lipford at the walk’s outset.
Beginning at the YMCA Club in Tijuana on Boulevard Manuel Contreras at 8:30 a.m., the participants traversed to Casa YMCA on Boulevard Cuauhtémoc Sur for refreshments. The journey continued toward the Chaparral pedestrian crossing, concluding the Tijuana leg. The walk will extend for three more days through San Diego, finishing in Oceanside, California.
Victoria Carrillo from YMCA San Diego explained, “The effort is to bring awareness about homeless youth and children… we are collecting donations at sojocali.org.” Initially, about 20 individuals joined Baker and Lipford, but as they reached the Chaparral crossing, only 10 remained, including YMCA members, activists, and volunteers.
**Additional Context: Local Efforts to Address Youth Homelessness**
In Tijuana, efforts to combat youth homelessness extend beyond the “Journey of Solidarity.” Local authorities are working to amend laws to intervene in situations where children are seen at street intersections and traffic lights, suspected to be areas of exploitation.
There’s growing concern about possible trafficking networks exploiting street children, which has led to 160 interventions through the “No More Children on the Streets” program. These initiatives are part of a broader push to safeguard vulnerable minors and provide safer conditions for youth at risk.
Local reports also indicate that city infrastructure issues, such as the obsolescence of water pipes in various neighborhoods, present additional challenges to community stability, indirectly impacting efforts to fight homelessness as resources are stretched thin.
The return of Santa Ana winds to the region, along with a forecast of high waves and frosts in mountainous areas, adds another layer of complexity to the living conditions of unsheltered children and families, emphasizing the urgent need for collective community action.