yvaa

Youth members who were involved with Detroit-based YOUTH VOICE have started a new organization.

YOUTH VOICE is a project of the Harriet Tubman Center. 

More than 30 youth, with the support of adults, created YouthVoice AdultAllies (YVAA), an organization for young people fighting for educational justice and supported by adult allies. According to a press release, the YVAA “will be the first of its kind with an infrastructure where only youth are paid staff in the organization.

“Now that we have our own organization,” said Trevon Stapleton, junior at Cody High School, recent President of YOUTH VOICE and a founder of YVAA. “we have 100% control over what we do and the ability to partner with all organizations we want. I think we are at our greatest potential because we decide how we address the School to Prison Pipeline and luckily we have adults supporting us.”

Founding members of the YVAA received national attention after organizing and participating in an 80-mile walk from Detroit to Lansing to advocate for a modification of zero tolerance policies and alternatives to suspensions. The young leaders hope that new legislation will be introduced regarding the policies.

To learn about upcoming meetings and how you can get involved, visit Facebook.com/YVxAA

YouthVoice AdultAllies is an organization of young people fighting for educational justice and supported by adult allies. Visit www.YouthVoiceAdultAllies.org for more information.

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