Community Of Unity

It is with deep sadness that we share that our brother, YELC member Tristan Serrano, was hit and killed by a car on Sunday while riding a bicycle near Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms, where he was working as a counselor. Tristan is a member of our recently graduated New Design High School YELC group run by Jean Carlos Artiles. Jean was with Tristan at camp, where he is the Director of Boys Programming. YELC member Xavier Cruz-Cortez was a counselor at camp as well and was with Tristan at the time of the accident.

Words cannot express the depth of this loss to Tristan’s family and to those of us who have known and loved him. Tristan has been a true leader within Community of Unity over the last four years in his YELC group, at New Design High School and at Steve’s Camp. His thoughtful and philosophical manner inspired many people to question, challenge and seek a deeper understanding of life and all its complexities.  Tristan shared his kindness and warmth generously through his big smile. He was gentle and kind and awkward in all the best ways.

At his YELC Graduation dinner and celebration just a few weeks back, Jean Carlos presented Tristan with the Thinker Award, which is certainly very fitting. But as Jean Carlos said yesterday, Tristan could have been given any of the awards presented that day; they all fit him: The Thinker, The Old Soul, The Shape Shifter, The Artist, The Trickster, The Earth, The Digger, The Searcher, The Inspiration.

He was and will remain deeply loved. Watch Tristan in this CofU video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3IZtTD3Wh0#t=93