Future Visions: Interview with Graduating ArtLab Intern Rogelio Muñoz-Vargas

This spring six ArtLab interns will graduate from high school. In celebration of their growth, commencement and future we will feature an intern interview each week!

At PlatteForum we believe that youth voice is essential to a more just and equitable world. Over the course of the Class of 2018’s time with us they have built community, supported each other through high school growing pains, worked hard to complete their course work and apply to college, marched in rallies and protests. In ArtLab they have dared to articulate a vision of a better world through their art by challenging and disrupting our cultural narratives in America. Cheers to the leadership of the ArtLab Interns! 

Future Visions: Interview with Rogelio Muñoz-VargasDenver School of Science and Technology: Cole, Class of 2018University of Colorado-Denver, Class of 2022

What are you most proud of in this last year of high school?I’m most proud of really becoming a leader in my school about politics and  social justice issues. I’m proud of leading a walk out for DACA and gun violence and really speaking up about issues that are important to me.For my senior project at DSST: Cole I created a clothing campaign to raise awareness about DACA. I will be donating all of the profits from the t-shirt and stickers towards United We Dream, which is the largest immigrant youth-led community in the country fighting for a DREAM Act. http://dacaproject.bigcartel.com/The deadline to purchase t-shirts and stickers in Monday, April 30th at midnight. What will you miss about ArtLab?I’m going to miss the sense of community that all the ArtLab interns create together. I will miss being a part of a group that is very aware of what is going on in the world and creating art about those issues. I don’t know any other places like ArtLab.Something you love about yourself?I love how honest I am. A lot of people shy away from the truth but it’s important to me because I feel like I am being true to myself and true to how the world really is. Being honest is something I’ve learned to do in the process of realizing who I am and what I stand for in this society. I’ve encountered people who don’t accept me for who I am but if I’m not honest I wont be my true self.Sweetest thing?Peaches.What is your hope for your generation? Where would you like to see America going?I hope that my generation wakes up all the past generations. I hope that through the great leadership we are already seeing from my generation that we create a country that is more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.What possibilities excite you about your future? Im excited to graduate from college in four years and continue to be a positive force in this world. After college, who knows where I'll end up, but I know that I'll be continuing making positive change in this world.