Breaking Barriers (Rompiendo Barreras) is an annual event advocating for mental health awareness created by teens, for teens, shaped and hosted by the teen interns of the ESB-MACC Caminos Teen Leadership program.
View the documentary short about the Caminos Teen Leadership program. The video was created by Jana Birchum, who documented the teens as they led the annual event in Spring 2024.
They recognized a need within their communities to spread mental health awareness, share resources accessible to teens, and pass on the joy and power of expressing oneself through art. Breaking Barriers was their solution.
With the goal to create a space for conversation, connection, and creation–the Caminos Teen Leadership program developed Breaking Barriers as an event dedicated to spreading mental health awareness and breaking the barriers that harm and isolate our youth in their times of need.
Every year–through live performances, curated panels and sessions with mental health professionals, ancestral healing practices, a plethora of creative DIY workshops and activities, and more–the Caminos program interns (or Caminantes) curate the event to be a safe place for teens in the Austin area to come together and connect as a community.
By offering a dedicated time and space to share their lived experiences, receive a wealth of education, resources, and coping mechanisms, they hopefully leave the event with a deeper understanding and care for themselves, each other, and the resources available to them.
Photographed by Ulises Garcia Vela
We finally got to our 8th annual breaking barriers hosted at the Millenium! We had a lot of surprises and activities for this day. So grateful to Greg Goodman spoken word on mental health. We had our good friends Zamaripas extending chicano practices of wellness as well. That's not all! C-Now came and performed live at our event and his fun humble nature was really cool to witness.
We had a fun interactive event this year filled with activities like dry clay creation, origami, free portraits, watercolor session, zine-making session, pearler beads table, jewelry making, a time capsule, hat making, and screen-printing for tees and tote bags. We had an amazing group performane by Eufemia, Bradley, Miguel, & Carlos performing "No Me Queda Mas" and a mental health testimony by Catrina.
Overall it was a fun exciting day where we got treated breakfast tacos, snacks. Chik fil'a, Mom n Pops, and a free hour of skating/bowling at the Millenium. We thank and appreciate all staff who made this day happen!
Photographed by Ulises Garcia Vela
Not only was this free fun event made for the youth, but it was planned by Caminos and aided by supporters of mental health as a Breaking Barriers event should. We couldn't be more proud of the effort shown on this day.
This process was nothing short of exhilarating and full of excitement. So thankful to have special guest Saul Paul with his interactive performance. Overall great collaboration with the SaulPaul Foundation and the AARC. But we can't forget the insightful vision boarding workshop, our own Fashion Competition, Button making, jewelry crafts, watercolor paining, and treats and snacks galore. Truly, prioritizing mental health has never felt as easy.
Photographed by Ulises Garcia Vela
A free event dedicated to our young people where our Caminantes, young community artists and cultural activists facilitated an exploration of the powerful idea of Breaking Barriers. What does that mean to our youth? How can we take care of our mental health and heal from past trauma?
This year - we used art, community, reflection, mindfulness, poetry, & indigenous healing practices to break down barriers!
A day filled with art, music, and community dedicated to youth while we explore and embody mental wellness practices facilitated by the teens of the ESB-MACC Caminos Teen Leadership program. Teens collaborated with emerging artists, mental health professionals and cultural activists to explore self-expression around the theme of Breaking Barriers.
Back at the MACC after lockdown was lifted - Caminos had the opportunity to go all out with the conference! Break out activities, goody bags, ancestral healing sessions and guest speakers galore!
This year's meeting was done fully virtual! A 2-hour zoom meeting, with activities paprticipants were able to participate in from their own home using goodie-bags provided from the MACC the week prior. We also had a virtual concert from the Tiarras (@thetiarrasofficial) to close it out!
The 2020 Breaking Barriers Conference took place in Late-February / Early-March, before the pandemic really took it's toll in the U.S. Breaking Barriers was Caminos' last hurrah at the MACC for a year - it was a sad but fun goodbye!
2019's Conference was the first of many and had loads of activities surrounding mental wellness - as do all Breaking Barriers events. This year especially, the attendees got the chance to participate in a mosaic mural the Caminantes were working on with J Muzacz that is set to be displayed at the New and Improved MACC!