About Mariposa Collective
Our mission is to empower youth of color with popular & resistance-based education, strengthen community relationships with creative arts workshops, and build a mentorship network for first-generation women of color. We do this through an intersectional and intergenerational lens while amplifying art activism as a response to institutionalized violence.
Our Pillars
Youth Education
Mariposa Collective provides youth education programs focused on social issues, art, and activism. Year 1 is the Social Justice Scholars Program, Year 2 is Activism as Practice Internship, and Year 3 is a Fellowship for college students.
Community Workshops
We host virtual and in-person community events that range different topics like poetry and spoken word, art collaging, journaling, sex education, immigrant rights, and book clubs.
Mentorship Network
Women of Color Rising (WCR) is our mentorship network where high school students, college students, and women in the workforce are matched to promote professional development opportunities.
Our Values
Unapologetically Ambitious
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Ambitious Black and brown women are often seen as wanting or being “too much” and dreaming “too big.” In this space, we push back against that notion by encouraging each other to pursue our dreams. In this space, women are empowered to be ambitious in all areas of their life.
Roots & Sisterhood
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Black and brown women should not have to code-switch, white-wash their culture, or adhere to respectability politics. In this space, we believe we can create sisterhood by honoring and celebrating our different cultural and racial history, while also interrogating how our cultural roots have caused harm to other communities.
Cariño y Connection
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We value creating connections that go beyond superficial networking, instead we focus on intentional and intergenerational community building. This way, we build cariño within ourselves and show love to each other to increase self confidence.
Collective Healing & Radical Joy
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Too many Black and brown teens are not afforded the opportunity to a carefree childhood, too many Black boys and girls do not have the privilege of growing old, so in this space we center and celebrate the joy of Black and brown youth. We also know that healing doesn’t happen in isolation, but rather with the support and love from our communities.
Meet the Board of Directors
Meet Angie
Angie’s work is community and youth centered specifically on topics of social justice issues that impact young adults. She has a commitment to create spaces where young people, particularly Black and Brown youth, feel valued, affirmed, and empowered. She envisions an accessible education system, flourishing and funded communities of color, healing spaces for intergenerational trauma, and safety and protection for undocumented immigrants.
Angie has a Bachelors in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from The College of New Jersey, with a focus on mental health and immigrant communities.
Meet ShaLisa, MPP
ShaLisa's dedication to supporting underserved communities is evident in her work within Diverse Health Advocates, where she applies human-centered design principles to address gaps in sexual health education for adolescents. Driven by a commitment to equitable access to reproductive health services, education, and economic opportunities, she aligns her academic and professional pursuits with a dedication to fostering impactful social justice policies.
ShaLisa has a Masters of Public Policy from George Washington University, with a specialization in gender and social policy.
Meet Leanne, MPH
Leanne is an immigrant health advocate currently based in Philadelphia. They recently graduated with a Masters in Public Health, and focuses on expanding primary care access to immigrants and refugees in the US. They love postcards, plants and mixed media collage!
Leanne has a Masters of Public Health from the University of Pennsylvania with a focus on community health.
Meet Julia
Julia is a Higher Education Professional currently based in New Jersey, whose approach to work involves a blend of empathy, collaboration, and a genuine desire to help students shape their own futures. In her free time, Julia teaches dance for The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey’s Sayawan Na! youth program and loves to crochet and read.
Julia has a Bachelors in Psychology from The College of New Jersey.
