Youth In Action is seeking a Director of Development. Click here to learn more.
Youth In Action's Health Education Team, Y.E.A.H., recently recieved a grant from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI to support their efforts. Click here to read more about the award and Y.E.A.H. Team.
This July Providence and Youth In Action were host to the Free Minds Free People Conference, a national gathering of more than 700 students, activists and educators. Click here to see a video of highlights from this great event, created by YIA's own Next Generation Media Team!
Youth In Action is a partnership between youth, adults, and community where young people are at the forefront of creating positive social change.
We envision Youth In Action as a large and diverse network of active members and alumni who use their leadership ability to effect positive change wherever they are. We envision Providence, RI as a place where young people
Youth Making Positive Change: We believe that young people have a unique and powerful ability to make positive individual, community, and social change.
Young People in Leadership: We support young people in the study and “real world” practice of strong leadership.
Youth Power = Adult Power: We believe in shared power, partnership and unity between youth and adults.
Youth Engaged In Arenas Of Influence: We believe communities are stronger when young people are engaged in arenas of influence that they are typically excluded from, including government, politics, media, organizing, giving, investment, entrepreneurial innovation, and creativity.
Achieving & Celebrating Accomplishments: We work to achieve our goals and celebrate all accomplishments, large or small.
Working With & For the Community: We strive to be in partnership and relationship with the community at-large as we work to make positive change.
Diversity That Represents Our Community: We strive to represent the diversity of youth, including personality, class, gender, sexual orientation, academic, race, etc, in a way that reflects the richness of our community.
Be Yourself: YIA is a safe, comfortable place where all people can be themselves and be accepted for who they are.Youth Making Positive Change: We believe that young people have a unique and powerful ability to make positive individual, community, and social change.
Adeola A. Oredola is the Executive Director of Youth In Action (YIA), like the youth YIA serves, Adeola grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Providence. She attended Providence Public Schools, then Brown University, and now lives in the Washington Park area of the city. As a product of the community in which she works, Adeola is truly dedicated to every aspect of youth and community development in Providence. “I know what it’s like to be a teenager in this community and what a difference it makes to have mentors and coaches who challenge you to define your own success despite your environment,” she said. “My heart lives in this work because I know how it has made a difference in my life.”
To date, YIA has reached more than 13,000 Providence youth with health education, violence prevention, youth produced media, academic mentoring, and community renovation projects. Ninety-six percent of YIA graduates have gone on to college. "Access to higher education is a huge need for youth in low-income communities," says Oredola. "I remember my own High School Advisor laughing at me and telling me 'not to bother' trying to go to college. When I finally got my acceptance letter from Brown University, I made sure to leave a copy on his desk!" But getting through the first few years of college was still a struggle for Adeola, coming from a school system that hadn't properly prepared her. She called on mentors and the support of her community to make it through. This one-on-one support, she says, is at the core of what YIA provides to young people.
At the age of 23 Adeola was the youngest person ever to serve on the Providence School Board, where for three years she worked to ensure that both youth and community members had a stronger voice in school policy initiatives. She has been YIA's Executive Director for the past 4 years, after serving as the Assistant Director for 4 years. Adeola has grown YIA from a small grass-roots organization into one that is nationally recognized and a force for community collaboration. She helped spearhead the Youth 4 Change Alliance - a collaborative between 4 youth-serving organizations in the City that engages youth in social change efforts (www.youth4change.org). She also led the organization in its successful application to be the host organization for the Free Minds Free People Conference - a national conference previously held in Chicago and Houston. The conference brought over 700 educators, students, and community leaders from all ages to Providence, to learn from each other and strategize around using education as a tool for eliminating disparities and creating a more just society. It's connecting youth in her home City to opportunities like these, where they can lead, network, and have a place at the local and national table when it comes to issues that affect them, that Adeola is most passionate about.
Adeola is now 31 and currently serves as a Board Member with AS220, the Women’s Fund of RI, and the Providence Plan. She was also recently awarded the distinct honor of being a 2011 RI Foundation fellow, which will allow her to travel to her home country of Nigeria to learn her family's native language and bring YIA's model to the international stage.
adeola@youthinactionri.org
T: 401.751.4264 x2
F: 401.751.1712
Jennifer has been involved with YIA for over ten years. She first came to YIA as a youth and was a member of Y.E.A.H. (Youth Educating About Health) and Co-Chair of the Board. After graduating from Providence College, Jen returned to YIA in 2004 as the Business/Development Manager. In 2008, Jen became the Associate Director and spends her time raising funds for YIA. Her other full-time job is being a mom to her two children.
jen@youthinactionri.org
T: 401.751.4264 x5
F: 401.1712
Michelle became a member of the YIA staff in the Spring of 2005 when she was hired as the Business Manager for the organization. She is a graduate of Classical High School and Providence College and a native of Providence.
michelle@youthinactionri.org
T: 401.751.4264 x3
F: 401.1712
Erroll started his work at YIA in the Spring of 2005. He attended Hope High School and Grambling State University. In his position as Director of Youth Programs, Erroll works closely with Y.E.A.H. and Media teams. Erroll enjoys spending time with his daughter and developing his photography portfolio.
erroll@youthinactionri.org
T: 401.751.4264 x4
F: 401.751.1712
Paige joined the Y4C team in July 2010 as the new Y4C Netwrok Director. With a background in youth development and education at Youth Pride Inc. and the Met School, she hit the ground runnig, leading the text and web teams and working closely with Y4C interns to plan for the recent Mayoral Candidates Forum.
paige@ Y4Cri.org
T: 401.751.4264 x7
F: 401.751.1712
Sterling Clinton joined the Y4C Team in January 2011 as Y4C's Project Director. Sterling was born and raised in Providence, RI and is a Youth In Action alum. Sterling returns to Providence after teaching in New York City for three years. Sterling's charisma and energy are put to work each day as she leads Y4C steering committee meetings, prepares youth for public testimony, and supports Y4C member organizations.
Chris loves interacting with youth at YIA and helping them become leaders in their communities. She is a graduate of Colby Jr. College and Roger Williams University. She i and her husband, Steve have been married for 37 years and they have a daughter and son.
Christopher attends Classical High School and is the current leader of SPEAK (his school's step team) and Brotherhood. He is also the Co-Coordinator of YEAH team (Youth Educating About Health) at YIA. Chris is very energetic and loves to have fun and meet new people at YIA.
Kisa appreciates the atmosphere of YIA--- energetic and positive. She loves the idea of youth in power. Kisa is an associate Dean in the Office of Student Life at Brown University. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown. She lives with her husband Glen and her son Paul.
Marlie is 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. She loves to listen to music, spend time with her friends, play sports and read. She also enjoys singing, painting, and going to church. She love the fact that at YIA you meet many new people and new opportunities are created.
Mailing Address:
Youth In Action
672 Broad Street
Providence, RI 02907
T: 401.751.4264
F: 401.751.1712
Or Email below
Email inquiries: info@youthinactionri.org
Youth In Action is located at 672 Broad Street in Providence, RI. We are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 7pm. Youth programs take place during after school hours from about 3pm to 7pm. We are easily accessible by RIPTA bus, using the number 11, Broad Street bus.
Directions to YIA
From the North: Take 95 South to the Atwells Avenue Exit (Exit #21) in Providence. Keep straight to go onto Service Road #7. Turn right onto Broad Street. Continue on Broad Street by bearing to your left at the split of Broad Street and Elmwood Avenue. 672 Broad Street will be on your left.
From the South: Take 95 North to the Broadway Exit (Exit #21) in Providence. Then take the first left, onto Broadway (over the highway). Then take your next immediate left, unto Service Road #7. You will be driving parallel to 95 in the opposite direction. Continue on the Service Road until you reach Broad St (there will be a big YMCA building). Turn right onto Broad St. Continue on Broad Street by bearing to your left at the split of Broad Street and Elmwood Avenue. 672 Broad Street will be on your left.
