Youth in Action

YIA NEWS

Bloom with Youth In Action 2013

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us at Bloom! Because of you, we are able to work with all the youth engaged with YIA to reach their personal and educational goals to create positive change in the community! 

Youth In Action Turned 15!

More than 100 YIA family members joined us for a fun night of food, cocktails, media, and Youth In Action stories. We launched our 15th Anniversary video and enjoyed a fun evening of socializing with old friends and meeting new ones! 

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EVENTS

2012 Recognition Event

This year's Recognition Event was captured by one of our alumni in this beautiful video. Watch the video now to see footage of our recent graduates and of the event. 

 

Did you miss Free Minds Free People 2011?

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! 

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CHECK US OUT

Programs

YIA based on the belief that youth have the right to be involved in decision-making and social change projects that affect their own community.YIA goes beyond the traditional after-school program model, which aims to “keep kids safe” by involving them in activities. In addition to having a safe and welcoming place to go after school, youth spend their time engaging in activities that promote critical thinking, leadership, and community action.

Youth:

  • comprise the majority of our board of directors;facilitate the daily schedule of workshops and team meetings;
  • lead and manage community outreach and educational programs, each led by two youth coordinators who supervise their peers;
  • develop and write the curricula used to teach their peers about non-violence, health, and civic engagement;
  • partner with youth from various Providencecommunity organizations on organizing, civicengagement, and leadership initiatives;
  • Receive 1:1 support from adult staff, who help them to set and reach multiple goals.

The Youth 4 Change Alliance (Y4C)

Y4C is a coalition of four organizations in Providence, RI that believe in youth power and leadership. They came together because of a deep concern for the lack of youth presence in public discussions. Decisions are made that affect youth first and sometimes more seriously than adults, without their voices as a part of the discussuion. Y4C believes that when young people have the access, support, and opportunity to impact policies and systems, the entire community benefits.  

In 2010, Y4C created Providence’s first Youth Bill of Rights, which focuses on the issues that impact young people most. They’re also building a youth network to keep youth informed about issues and their community and ways to work on real solutions.  The Y4C organizations are Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), Young Voices, and Youth In Action.
www.Y4Cri.org

College Bound

“At YIA, we believe we have the power to make our families and communities stronger, but only if we stay strong.  As learners that means we’re fighting for the education and lives that we deserve. “--from the 2009 YIA Leadership Agreement.

College Visions
Youth In Action is proud to partner with College Visions, to make sure YIA seniors have a change to obtain a college education. College Visions provides low-income and first-generation college-bound youth in Rhode Island with the individualized advising and resources needed to enroll in college. With College Visions' guidance, students access the support and knowledge to make informed college choices.

Next Generation Media

Youth In Action's Media Team, Next Generation Media, is a group of dynamic youth who use modern technology to learn about and share information with their community. Next Generation Media focuses on issues related to social justice and equality, to feed the community and their peers with knowledge about situations they wouldn’t be informed about in school or by watching the news. Next Generation Media's first project led to the creation of a website to inform the public about a crisis in the public transportation system in Rhode Island. Log onto www.theriptacrisis.org to set eyes on their accomplishment and educate yourself on an issue that affects thousands in our tight knit community.

Youth Education About Health (YEAH)

Members of YEAH Team are not your typical health teachers.  The team was started by youth who wanted to prevent teen pregnancy and STDs from hurting their community. Each year they reach 300 of their peers with information about pregnancy, HIV & STD prevention and health behaviors.  Youth on the team worked with the RI Department of Health to create the YEAH curriculum. The team hires and trains their own staff, and is responsible for setting and reaching program goals.  Because of that, the sessions are always fun and youth can be really honest about the issues they face—which leads to real solutions! 

As a part of its work, Y.E.A.H. Team also conducts community outreach through its STREET Team, which brings vital health information and referrals for a variety of services to members of the Providence community.