By Us, For Us — Reclaiming Futures, Rebuilding Community
Cemelle was created by people who’ve lived at the intersection of higher education, incarceration, poverty, and exclusion. We’ve seen how systems fail our youth — and we knew something had to change.
So, we built it ourselves.
Cemelle is a community-rooted initiative that supports Latinx youth impacted by the juvenile justice system. Our work is grounded in cultural healing, educational equity, and radical hope. We believe young people already carry power — our role is to create space where they can use it.
Our Name, Our Roots
“Cemelle” comes from cemelli, the Nahuatl word for “to unite.” Our name honors ancestral knowledge and our collective vision to bring community, identity, and purpose back into the center of youth development. We don’t treat culture as an add-on — it’s the foundation.
Nuestra Lucha
We provide structured, meaningful programming that meets youth where they are — academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through partnerships, mentorship, and culturally grounded curriculum, we offer:
Identity & leadership development
Academic and emotional support
Legal diversion support through Peer Court
Family resources and civic engagement opportunities
Our mission isn’t to “save” youth — it’s to stand beside them as they shape a world where they thrive, not just survive.
