This story was originally published in our Spring 2021 REPORT Newsletter.
Over the course of the events last summer, we witnessed a strong rallying cry for racial justice throughout the country.
Youth groups and teens in communities such as Detroit and Grosse Pointe often joined in or organized protests of their own to express their desire for action and change on the racial justice front.
We know that young people have a voice, but in matters of education and public policy, those voices often go unheard.
It is vitally important to give them a seat at the table during community decision-making.
The Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council provides local youth with an opportunity to help guide community grantmaking from our Youth Leadership Fund.
With input from YAC participants, the Community Foundation recently announced financial support for organizations developing and enhancing youth-led racial justice programs.
The Allied Media Projects’ Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) Program is engaging high school students throughout the region in youth-led dialogues against racism and injustices experienced at schools or in their communities.
New support is helping expand the program to more youth.
The YAC also recommended funding for Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County. The grant will help improve refugee and immigrant youth services by creating a Youth Advisory Committee.
The committee will empower immigrant and refugee youth to be a voice for change on key racial justice issues such as human rights, access to services, participation, educational disparities, and equity.