Photo Courtesy: Loud for Tomorrow Instagram. Staff Reporter Crystal Navarro interviewing Loud for Tomorrow interns Ruby Servine and Caroline Medina.
Loud for Tomorrow, a youth-led organization based in Delano, hosted a three-day Care Camp focused on mental health, community healing, and support.
The grassroots organization provides safe spaces for youth and community members through advocacy, workshops, and community engagement. LOUD empowers young people by helping them understand the importance of voting and providing them with the tools to get involved in their schools and communities.
The event offered resources for mental health and education on the importance of community care. From Friday through Sunday, attendees participated in mental health workshops and enjoyed performances from panelists and community members.
The camp also aligned with Pride Month in June, a time that celebrates LGBTQ+ identity and community.
Senior Program Manager Monike Reynozo spoke with Kern Sol News about the responsibilities of being an organizer and what she believes the Delano community still needs.
A CSU Bakersfield alumna, Reynozo studied political science and later earned her Master’s in Public Administration. One thing remained clear throughout her journey: she wanted to improve the daily lives of those in her community. During the pandemic, she began speaking at city council meetings, advocating for increased protections and resources for underserved residents. Reynozo has volunteered at food distributions, vaccine clinics, and other local events.
She emphasized that people living in the Central Valley often experience disparities due to a lack of resources and limited self-awareness. Reynozo pointed to systemic issues as the root cause of the hardships and inequalities that persist in the region.
With recent federal budget cuts threatening LGBTQ+ resources, Loud for Tomorrow has taken a stand by advocating to elected representatives and supporting partner organizations that are most affected by these cuts.
The organization continues to provide a safe space for youth in Delano and surrounding areas, offering opportunities to decompress and access mental health services. They currently offer five free therapy sessions for youth ages 18 and older, as well as referrals to licensed professionals.
“We have partnered up with another local organization locally from Hanford and refer them to our young people who might be interested in free therapy. It’s a pilot program and we’re able to provide a different avenue of resources,” said Monike.
Kern County consistently ranks among the highest in California for suicide rates. Between 2022 and 2023, the county saw a 33 percent increase.
The Care Camp tackled these issues head-on by creating a space for open conversations about suicide prevention. Organizers provided resources and encouraged youth to celebrate mental health while engaging in meaningful dialogue.
“[It’s] a camp where young people get to learn about a serious topic, find resources, learn how to identify potential risks, but also enjoy community and have fun. They’re learning a lot about prevention,” said Reynozo. “But we’re all just enjoying each other, ourselves, life, especially in the month of Pride. Joy is resistance, queer joy is resistance, so we try to host that.”
Throughout the event, youth received tool kits to support personal storytelling, boost creativity, and foster connections to their mental health. The camp also featured live music, performances from Central Valley drag artists, shared meals, and quiet moments for reflection.
Ruby Servine, an intern with Loud for Tomorrow, first connected with the organization in 2019 at the onset of the pandemic. She shared that she felt empowered by the way Loud raises awareness: “It’s empowering, and I really [wanted] to be part of this.”
Caroline Medina, a Delano resident who joined the organization on the first day of Care Camp, said that even though her time with Loud has been brief, it felt “euphoric to be surrounded with people like me.”
