LOS ANGELES - s4story -- Advot.org proudly announces another success story! Using artistic exploration, Advot teaches youth vital communication and relationship-building skills—empowering them to become courageous self-advocates.

On September 24th 2014, Merced Velez celebrated her 15th birthday in a probation lock-up facility  incarcerated at the young age of 14, at first Merced struggled to advocate for herself effectively. However, after participating in Advot's Ripple program, Merced was able to find her voice and make meaningful connections with mentors and role models that not only guided her through her lockup time, but also inspired Merced to continue her education.

Today, Merced works in a law firm in Los Angeles and will graduate from Cal State Pomona in May 2025. Her time with Advot instilled in Merced the belief that her voice matters. Like many other Advot Alum, Merced knows that she holds the power to shape her destiny.

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"Ending up in jail could have made my life tough, but joining the Advot program changed everything," says Merced. "Advot helped me see that I could do great things.

Released early for good behavior, Merced eagerly embraced Advot alumni programs, participating in plays and other artistic outlets, making connections and gathering an important support system to help stay on the path to success. Advot was her anchor, empowering her with the life skills to pursue her dreams.

"The program showed me how to keep learning and growing so that I could have a prosperous future." Merced adds, "Thanks to Advot, I started believing in myself and worked hard to get accepted into a university. It helped me turn my life around."

"I always tell our students: Never believe you are less—because you are always, ALWAYS more. Merced is living proof of that truth. You can change. You can grow. No matter where you come from. You can step into spaces you once thought were beyond your reach—and belong there fully." – Naomi Ackerman – Founder /Executive Director.

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ABOUT ADVOT

Advot uses the power of artistic exploration to empower young people to find their voice and grow into courageous and effective self-advocates.

Meaning ripples in Hebrew, Advot uses their ground-breaking Ripple Method to teach thousands of young people vital communication and relationship-building skills, inspiring them to overcome the barriers in their lives and to create ripples of change in their communities.

Listen to Advot Podcast: Thursdays in Juvie: featuring Merced Velez

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0E45zieLWLC2s7xBSnhyi9?si=969b3c4243ca486d

More Information on ADVOT

https://www.advot.org/