Annandale teen offers activist training to her peers

Dia Figueroa, a 14-year-old from Annandale, is launching a free youth-led activist training program for teens.

The pilot program, which Dia is calling Love Letter Starters, “aims to give young people the tools and knowledge to engage in community organizing and advocacy,” she says. 

The teens will meet semi-monthly at Thomas Jefferson Library, where Dia will help them identify issues they care the most about, organize a campaign, and make signs.

Dia is most interested in social justice issues, such as fighting back against the Trump administration’s attacks on women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, DEI, and green energy.

She tried handing out flyers advertising the program at Fair Oaks Mall but was asked to leave due to the mall’s no-soliciting policy.

Dia was inspired to become an activist by her family, who had been involved in politics in Bolivia.

She organized a rally on Feb. 5 as part of the 50501 movement, a grassroots effort to organize 50 protests in 50 states in one day against the unconstitutional, anti-democratic, and illegal actions of the Trump administration.

More protests are planned, including a rally for veterans on the National Mall on June 6 and No Kings Day all over the country on June 14, including D.C. during Trump’s military parade.

Dia’s pilot program to train young activists grew out of a Love Letter Newsletter she started that publicizes protests, petition drives, and volunteer opportunities.

The name “love letters” reflects the Virginia is for Lovers slogan. “There has to be compassion in activism. You need empathy to want to make change,” she says.

“Friends from my old schools told me they want to be activists but don’t know how to start,” she says. “I thought I could build a program to help kids learn how to protest.”

Dia goes to a virtual school so she has more flexibility to get involved in activism on weekdays. Even if teens can’t get to a protest, they can make a sign for someone else so they can be there in spirit.  

“I’ve always felt knowledge can be the most powerful weapon you can have,” Dia says. She wants teens to know “if they want to make a change, they can do it.”

Teens who want more information can contact her at [email protected] or 571-574-1270.