Supporting Community Focused Solutions for Youth Through Youth Empowerment

Greetings friends and neighbors,

Unfortunately it is not new news that our community, like so many others nationally and globally, is in crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create and/or exacerbate impacts that devastate and set individuals, families and communities back. In the Greater Madison area one of the most heavily impacted populations is our youth. We've heard and observed issues with weapons being brought on school properties or in the buildings themselves, large fights and disturbances both in schools and community settings. Several young people have lost their lives this year due to homicide, suicide, compromised driving and more. Our young people are not only calling out for help but they are also creating solutions themselves. We've seen powerful advocacy through student led walkouts and protests, consistent demands in regards to accountability and policy change and assistance navigating the challengings of growing up during this time.

I'd like to give a special shoutout to Maria Watkins, a high school senior at Upland High (CA) who earlier this week engaged the Mayor and Council through email. Maria reached out with a request to encourage adults in our community to share life lessons with youth. She stated, "Being a teenager is normally hard but living during COVID has made growing up even harder on our mental health. Students want to know what makes life worth living." What a powerful, profound and alarming statement...

It is clear everyone does not agree on what the solutions should be going forward, however we all have one goal in common - creating safe communities where all young people can prosper and thrive. Below is one opportunity to empower and amplify the voices of youth who are actively creating solutions to be the change they wish to see. Please share and distribute this information within your networks or better yet - challenge yourself to engage with a young person and ask them what their hopes and dreams are and how you can support them in achieving them. 

In community, 

Jael

Are you a young person who's passionate about a problem in your community? Do you want to receive up to $3,000 to support your work? If so, you should apply for a grant from "By Youth For Youth," a youth-led grant program offering up to $3,000 for student-led projects, clubs, and ideas that will better Dane County.

Visit the program's webpage here for more information.

Link to the Application which is due January 9, 2022

Apply today and make a change!