Dear Community,

At the beginning of this year, we could only guess what new challenges and struggles a new presidency would give us. It would’ve been more daunting to prepare if it weren’t for your support. This was a year for rapid-response organizing, and for every call, youth activists and their allies showed up in solidarity. In North Carolina alone, youth activists rose up when DADCumented students were under attack, when a cop assaulted a Wake County student, and when white supremacists held rallies in our streets.

This year bought us our 5th Annual Teen Convening, 8th Annual Freedom School in Raleigh and Durham, National Week of Action 2017, 5th Annual Ella Baker Fundraiser, and the return of Queernival. We spent countless hours training, connecting, and building with young people locally and statewide. In order to support youth organizing year-round, we launched a brand-new program: the New Organizers Training Fellowship. This 6-month intensive for high school students cultivates their growing leadership development, political analysis, and mobilizing strategies to use as leaders in their schools.

The more we’ve grown, so has our community. We’re endless grateful to our indispensable supporters, volunteers, and community partners who provide the energy and resources to make this work sustainable. This year, we were lucky to welcome two new staff members, our Co-Director, Raul and Program Coordinator, Femi. As a small team of six staff, we want to thank everyone who continuously shows up to support youth liberation and freedom. 

In Solidarity,

YOI

P.S. We want to keep in touch! Ask a friend to sign up for our emails, donate to our end-of-the-year fundraising campaign, or message us on Facebook. We’d love to hear from you.

2017 Highlights:

Ella Baker Dance Party & Fundraiser 2017
Ella Baker Dance Party & Fundraiser 2017
Freedom School Field Trip 2017
Freedom School Field Trip 2017
Queernival 2017
Queernival 2017

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