Youth Organizing
Youth Organizing and Development Summer Institute 2023
In June 2023, we conducted our annual four-week Summer Institute, a comprehensive training program for our newest Lead Student Organizers. During this intensive training, students acquired essential skills in critical thinking, ethnic studies, the history of education, conflict mediation, restorative justice, and more. Equipped with this knowledge and skill set, our young leaders are prepared to take the lead in organizing school-wide events, conducting weekly core team meetings, advocating for a high-quality public education system, and mediating racial tensions among their peers.
Community Building: What Does a Team Look Like to You?
Education Justice: Learning the Foundation of Youth Together and How We Came to Be
Cycle of Violence: Critically Analyzing Why Racial Violence Happens in Schools
Through art, students created a canvas that defined what unity and/or solidarity meant to them.
At the conclusion of the first week of the Summer Institute, Youth Together treated their Lead Student Organizers (LSOs) to an enlightening excursion—the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense Tour. This tour provided a deeper understanding of the origins and motivations behind this organization. One of the notable stops on the tour was the All Good Bakery, formerly recognized as the 1st Headquarters of the Black Panther Party.
To culminate the second week, which was dedicated to Ethnic Studies, Youth Together's Lead Student Organizers embarked on a field trip to Angel Island. Here, they delved into the historical context of the immigration process, particularly focusing on the years between 1910 and 1940.
Youth Together arranged an educational trip to San Francisco for their Lead Student Organizers (LSOs). During this outing, the LSOs had the opportunity to partake in the Precita Eyes Muralists Tour, a unique experience aimed at deepening their understanding of mural art. The tour covered various aspects, including the history, creation process, societal impact, and preservation of these captivating artworks.
To wrap up the Summer Institute with a fun and celebratory note, Youth Together treated the Lead Student Organizers (LSOs) to an exciting trip to Six Flags: Discovery Kingdom!