ENLACE, an initiative that brings together grassroots organizations with the public and private sector around an agenda for an inclusive and just city and the environmental restoration of Martin Peña tidal channel, has been catalogued as the most ambitious and comprehensive participatory community planning process developed in Puerto Rico. VISTA members like Lyzaida have much to do with descriptions like that.

There is a high illiteracy rate in the community, and discrimination is suffered alike by immigrants and low income residents of the CMP. Testimonials evidence the discrimination suffered by residents, and how this further affects their children’s development. Children whose parents or caretakers don’t have the tools or means necessary to support them in the development of school projects or assignments are often stigmatized and punished for not completing them.

Lyzaida is an Urban and Environmental Planner using her knowledge and skills to take the participants of ENLACE to new destinations, literally. As a Popular Educator her main responsibilities have to do with the adult literacy and youth leadership efforts. The task seemed daunting, but for Lyzaida, all that was necessary was a well defined plan, securing the trust of the participants and her never ending commitment to serve beyond all means. Her initial work plan had 3 objectives, it now has 7.

Lyzaida has given the participants of the adult literacy and youth leadership program something that hasn’t always been there, something that can be even catalogued as innovative to them: access; access to resources and to the support necessary to demolish barriers that have been passed from generation to generation. One of the best examples of Lyzaida’s impact in the adult literacy program is the story of Mercedes, an immigrant woman that joined the literacy project and that has now been invited to participate in the Clemente Course, of the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. From not knowing how to read or write, to being selected to join a college course, seems like magic.

And Lyzaida is good with “magic”. Her solidarity, empathy, and her ability to work with very diverse communities have earned her the trust of some of the most discerning members of the community: youth. Lyzaida was working with the LIJAC (Young Leaders in Action, Inc.) initiative, mainly focusing on strengthening the leadership skills of the participants and coordinating educational events. But Lyzaida saw that more had to be done, and that the LIJAC participants, while excellent leaders and recruiters for community efforts, also had their own educational struggles. So, Lyzaida identified and recruited resources in different areas, and activated an educational network of support. Every Wednesday LIJAC participants have one on one support sessions that go well beyond tutoring, and that have resulted in improvements in the participants grades and their overall school performance.

As a result of this educational network of support and the adult literacy program, participants now have open and available, new avenues of possibilities. And for them, as Lyzaida has evidenced through her actions, the sky is the limit.