Youth Community Development and Organizing
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"I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action." -Malcolm X
“When public officials meet with us, they respect us – they think we’re doing a good job and realize that we’re trying to do something positive. Before, they didn’t care about young people – they thought that we were the cause of all of the problems. Now they’re seeing that we have information that’s useful for them.” –HSTF Youth Community Organizer
In our traditionally underserved community, with a large immigrant and youth population, we organize people around issues that affect their day-to-day needs, hopes, and dreams. Raising awareness and motivating people to take action is critical to preserving and enhancing our community and our city.
The Youth Community Organizing (YCO) initiative was formed in 1999 to develop the leadership of the youth participants and alter the societal structures that support injustice. This unique model of youth development/organizing/community development makes youth agents of change in their communities while creating lasting personal transformation-- ultimately improving their lives as well as our world.
"When people come together it can make a huge difference. Now I know what to do—write letters, create consciousness, bring people together."
>> Read Galicia's story
YCOs undergo personal transformation and develop their leadership through relationship-building, the experience of becoming organizers, and key trainings that they receive and provide to each other. To alter the structures that create and promote injustice, our youth carry out grassroots organizing work. YCOs identify problems that affect them and their peers, learn about the systems of power that affect these problems, perform power analyses, and develop campaigns with clear targets and goals.
Read About Our Victories In:
Affordable Housing
Helping to increase the availability of affordable housing in our neighborhood and fight gentrification and displacement
Campaign to End Sexual Harassment
A campaign which raises awareness of sexual harassment and related issues by encouraging young women and allied young men to identify harassment and take action in their community
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Coalition to Educate, Mobilize, and Vote! (CEMV)
A coalition to increase electoral, political, and civic participation among youth and adults in our community
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Community Development
Creating a community that welcomes and celebrates the diverse cultures of our neighborhood through responsible development projects, public art and thriving open spaces
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Public Education
Working to improve our public schools and engage more students in becoming active participants in their education
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