MEET VIDA
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YOUTH VOICES LEAD.
Vida knows what it means to find a space where your voice matters. Through Cradle to Career, he found connection, community and opportunities to lead. Today, he’s using his voice to advocate for other young people and help create a Southern Arizona where more youth feel seen, heard and supported. Watch the video below to hear Vida’s story.
Tell me a little about yourself
My name is Vida Rodriguez, and I’m a queer person of color, youth advocate, and community leader based in Tucson, Arizona. I was born and raised here, and my work is deeply rooted in uplifting young people, especially those who have been historically overlooked, pushed out, or told their voices don’t matter.
I’m currently serving as a Public Ally at Youth On Their Own, where I support the development team in increasing youth enrollment and ensuring young people have access to resources and support. I’m also involved in multiple youth leadership spaces across the city, where I show up not just as a participant, but as someone committed to shifting systems to be more inclusive and youth-centered.
For me, community is essential. I love sharing resources, being in spaces where people can show up as their full selves, and spending time with the people who ground me. Having a chosen family reminds me that I have always been deserving of love and support. It’s a big part of what drives my work in creating a future where my younger siblings, and all young people, have more opportunities, support, and safety than I did growing up.
How and why did you first get involved with Cradle to Career and/or United Way?
I first got involved in C2C/United Way by connecting with Boys to Men Tucson, which opened the door for me to step into broader youth leadership spaces. I also knew Gabe Mendoza through community programs. He was a past member of CYLT, and hearing him talk about having a space where young people could collaborate, lead, and truly be supported really stuck with me.
As a young person who didn’t always feel like I belonged in traditional spaces, CYLT felt different. It felt like a space I needed to be in—not just to grow, but to make sure other young people like me could see themselves in those rooms too.
What makes Cradle to Career and United Way such special organizations?
What makes Cradle to Career and United Way stand out is their willingness to center and uplift community voice, especially youth voices, in a real way. It’s not performative. It’s about recognizing that lived experience is lived expertise, and that young people, especially those from marginalized communities, already have the insight and solutions.
They create spaces where young people aren’t just included, but are wholeheartedly trusted to lead, challenge systems, and help shape what our community looks like moving forward.
What would you say to a youth to get them involved?
I would say: your voice matters more than you’ll ever know. Showing up as yourself is powerful, even when it feels uncomfortable. You don’t have to have everything figured out, and you don’t have to shrink yourself to fit into spaces that weren’t built for you.
You belong in rooms where decisions are being made. Getting involved can open doors you didn’t even know existed, and more importantly, it can remind you that your story, your voice, and your presence all have priceless value.
Why are youth programs so important for a thriving Southern Arizona?
Youth programs are essential because they create access, opportunity, and a real sense of belonging, especially for young people who are often left out of the conversation. I’m a direct example of that. My story reflects what a lot of young people go through, and it changed because people in my community chose to invest in me and believe in me.
When young people are truly supported, listened to, and poured into, we don’t just succeed individually—we bring our communities with us. A thriving Southern Arizona starts with all of us collectively making the intentional choice to invest in young people, not just as future leaders, but as leaders right now.
What do you love most about Tucson?
What I love most about Tucson is how it has shaped me through community. Through spaces like CYLT, I’ve experienced what it looks like to be in rooms where young people—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—are trusted to lead, collaborate, and challenge systems.
Tucson has given me opportunities to grow into myself, find my voice, and build community in a way that feels impactful.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I want to continue encouraging everyone to invest in young people in a real way—not just by creating opportunities, but by listening, trusting, and making space for us to lead. Young people, especially queer youth and youth of color, are already doing the work, building community, and holding solutions.
We don’t need to be spoken for—we need to be heard and supported.
How to Get Involved
Vida’s story is a powerful reminder that young people are not just the future—they are leaders right now. Across Southern Arizona, initiatives like the Cradle to Career Youth Leadership Table are creating spaces where youth voices are centered, valued, and supported to drive real change.
If you’re inspired by Vida’s journey and want to learn more about how young people are shaping our community—or how to get involved—visit the Youth Leadership Table at Cradle to Career: https://c2cpima.org/youth-leadership-table/
Together, we can continue building a future where every young person is heard, supported, and empowered to lead.
