We honor the lives of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Tony McDade, Steven Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Sean Reed, Sean Monterrosa, and the countless others we’ve lost to the hands, knees, and bullets of US Law Enforcement since its inception. There’s no shortage of words to explain what has taken place time and time again; murder. Racism, white supremacy, and anti-Blackness are chief among many ills we must dismantle in order for our communities to not only be safe but to thrive and to live full, wholesome lives.
We honor the lives of Tony McDade, Nina Pop, and are praying for Iyanna Dior’s recovery. We must eradicate the hatred experienced by the Black LGTBQ+ community from law enforcement and from within our own communities.
We stand in love and solidarity with individuals, collectives, and organizations fighting for liberation on the ground, on the web, in personal relationships, and in the legislature. Check below for protest safety tips, ways to support, self-education, community, and individual healing resources, and various other ways you can advance the movement in this moment and beyond.
Writing Prompts Responding to Police Brutality. Recognizing Black Power.
This document was created by Jada Imani and Preeti Vangani of Youth Speaks in response to the state-sponsored violence against our Black community. The purpose of this document is to provide resources for young people to learn and practice several facets of solidarity during this time of protest and resistance. As we distance physically, we uphold connection by inviting youth to use their lives as primary texts and document how we can continue to contribute to this crucial movement.
Online Writing Workshops
Wednesdays 3:30pm-5:30pm PST Starting September 23rd.
There are no wrong answers. The standard is yourself. Come as you are.
Writing Prompts to Bridge Social Distance
As a response to the global pandemic and recent “shelter in place” ordinances, we want to provide resources for young people to reflect, ground themselves, and find moments of inspiration by putting pen to page during this time of rapid change. As we distance physically, we uphold connection by inviting youth to use their lives as primary texts and document what their world looks and sounds like in this moment.
The voices of young people matter
Mission
Through the intersection of arts education and youth development practices, civic engagement strategies, and high quality artistic presentation, Youth Speaks creates safe spaces that challenge young people to find, develop, publicly present, and apply their voices as creators of societal change.
Vision
Youth Speaks exists to shift the perceptions of youth by combating illiteracy, isolation, alienation, and silence, creating a global movement of brave new voices bringing the noise from the margins to the core.
Youth Speaks: National
Brave New Voices is a network of arts organizations and an international poetry festival for young writers and poets.
Our Emerging Arts Programs is a two-year Youth Speaks professional development program in the SF Bay Area.
The Bigger Picture (a partnership with UCSF’s Center for Vulnerable Populations) inspires young people to change the conversation about Type 2 diabetes.