Stela Barbosa’s inspiration to perform community service stems from her belief that “I am part of something bigger than myself” and that “living in a community means that everything that happens to one individual, affects the whole group.”

For the past four years, Stela has played an important role in Sunday School at her church as a classroom leader. She also volunteers at the church’s summer camp.

She started volunteering at church because “they showed me what it means to be a community.”  Stela, her parents, and her older sister moved here from Brazil when she was 10. During some of the hard times they experienced settling in, the church community gave her family support.  

Amy Fadeji, Director of Kids and Family programs, calls Stela “an amazing human being and a huge asset.”

Stela will attend the University of San Francisco in the fall.

When Siena sees a need, she jumps right in.

She has served on the Marin County Sheriff's Search and Rescue throughout her four years at Redwood High School.

She is involved in the Student Lead Anti-Racism Movement (SLAM) advocating for equality and ocial jjustice for people in marginalized communities.

She is a speaker with the Tobacco Use Prevention Education team (TUPE) spreading the word to middle school students that tovacco use is harmful.

Siena works with Youth Transforming Justice, an alternative justice group that helps gids who have gotten into trouble with the law to atone in personal, meaningful ways.

Her advisor at TUPE said, "When I think of Siena, the word that comes to mind is 'integrity'. She is eloquent, expressive, and she marches to her own drummer."

She will attend the University of Vermont in the fall.