One day prior to International Trans Day of Visibility, Governor Roy Cooper signed HB 142, which although touted as a “compromise” to the anti-trans House Bill 2, still fails to protect trans and gender non-conforming citizens. It actively barrs cities from creating their own non-discrimination ordinances, whether it be for public bathrooms, schools, or the […]
What Happened to Jasmine Darwin?
What Happened to Jasmine Darwin? State investigators are still looking into the case of a police officer who slammed a Rolesville High School student to the floor. While National attention has been placed on school policing since a nine-second video was posted on Twitter on Jan. 3 showing a Rolesville Police Officer picking up student […]
Post-HKonJ Youth Power Assembly + What’s New
Happy Black History Month! First off, we’re hosting a Post-HKonJ Youth Power Assembly with IgniteNC! Open for all young people wanting to build a collective platform powered by the fight for liberation for all. We’re up against a lot under a new presidency so we’ll be building our toolkits with skills and strategies crucial to […]
2016 Reflections
Dear Community, We made it through another year together. Even though organizing in North Carolina in 2016 was a balancing act, youth activists were an ever-present, growing force. We were unified in our fight when we learned HB2 was passed during a special session of the General Assembly, on the anniversary of Blake Brockington’s death. […]
Ella Baker Gala 2016!
Thank you to everyone who came out for our end-of-the-year hurrah! We had an amazing time celebrating youth and adults allies, cultivating intergenerational conversations, and reflecting on another busy year. We honored Assata, a Freedom School alum, who protested with other students for the right to wear head wraps in Durham County Schools. As well […]
Save the Date! 4th Annual Ella Baker Gala
As we near the end of the year we know have a lot of work ahead but one thing is for sure, we will not run, we will not hide. We will stay and fight! But first, we want to take a moment to celebrate youth activists, honor adult allies, and commemorate a year […]
Keep Our Schools Safe: Support Anthony Perry
The Youth Organizing Institute is sharing the following petition on behalf of Melissa Reynolds and her son, Anthony Perry — a Black 5th grader at Conn Elementary School in Raleigh, NC who was violently dragged out of his classroom. Sign now: Petition to Wake County Public School System’s School Board Members October 20, 2016 This […]
No More Strange Fruit! Call to Action from Charlotte Uprising
On September 20th, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police killed Keith Lamont Scott, a disabled Black father who deserved to live. People have taken to the streets of Charlotte every day and every night to demand an end to the war on Black lives and Black communities. People on the ground continue to be met with police repression from […]
DSC First Congressional Hearing on Cops in Schools
Follow along on Twitter at with#CounselorsNotCops as YOI joins Dignity in Schools Campaign for their first congressional hearing on police in schools. Eleanora M., YOI Freedom School graduating sharing their experience with school push out. Kick out cops, not kids!