Government-funded youth groups as well as foster care providers and social workers are encouraging, supporting, and in some cases organizing young people under their jurisdiction to protest against racism and the police in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. A program funded by the Department of Labor put together a plan to help youth groups activate their young people and send them into the streets to protest for Floyd.
Oakland’s School of Unity and Liberation, which works with at-risk youth and writes curricula to radicalize foster youth and is funded by the Rockefeller family’s Rockefeller Brothers Foundation and others, has been going all in on the protests in coordination with Black Organizing Project:
The National Foster Youth Institute: “As an organization, the National Foster Youth Institute stands in solidarity with the protestors who are demanding justice. We stand with those who are ready to make bold, transformational change. We stand with the people and organizations that are ready to move beyond talk to take meaningful action. Lives depend on it.”
YouthBuild Louisville is a job training and leadership group that is “primarily funded by the Department of Labor and Louisville Metro Government.” Its CEO Lynn Rippy laid out a plan for youth agencies to “Offer opportunities for them to express themselves, including fears. Validate their anger. Safe ways of expression include writing, talking, calling in the middle of the night, etc. Advise them of safe strategies if they’re taking part in demonstrations.” Rippy said that “We want them to let their voices be heard, to understand they have power” and encouraged young people to demonstrate during daylight hours.
The government-funded nonprofit Youthprise went with the “Dada, What Color Was George?” approach while stating, “At Youthprise, where I am honored to serve as Vice President, we applaud the young people who have refused to give up in the face of adult opposition and are currently on the front lines peacefully fighting for equity and justice!…We are committed to addressing disparities rooted in institutional racism, and we won’t stop until we see change. Soon we will be sharing meaningful action steps Youthprise will be taking to address inequity in the Black community. We will also be issuing a call to action to our broader community. It will take all of us not turning away, but turning over every stone to uncover, expose, and correct the disparities plaguing our community. Our youth are leading the way; let us join them!” Youthprise claims to have “granted over $30 million to youth initiatives, provided training and technical support to over 100 youth organizations, and successfully lobbied for over $3.1 million in direct state approrpriates.” The group is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3). According to a financial statement, “The Organization received 87% of revenue from 10 governmental entities and one foundation for 2018.”
Foster VA, which is “a campaign started by Extra Special Parents (a licensed child placing agency) to raise awareness of Virginia’s need for great foster families”: says “Being activists in this generation is very important” and encourages children to be taught to “advocate” and build a “network with those with the same passions.” Not having this activist conversation with children, according to the group, puts them in danger.
Treehouse, “Washington’s leading nonprofit organization addressing the academic and other essential support needs of more than 8,000 youth in foster care” said: “The hearts at Treehouse ache for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other precious lives that have been stolen at the hands of police whose duty is to protect our citizens. Treehouse stands in community with those who have been impacted so directly by this targeted violence. Treehouse believes in long-term sustained action to rebuild the systems that are failing…Treehouse notes that it is essential to remember the victims’ names and stories and spread the word about the injustice happening in our society. Treehouse hopes for individuals and communities not to turn away in silence but to create awareness, change, and justice.”
The Youth Justice Coalition organized a protest in Los Angeles. According to the Chronicle of Social Change: “Organized by the Youth Justice Coalition, protesters in downtown Los Angeles demanded that L.A. city and county shift hundreds of millions of dollars away from the police, Sheriff and Probation departments – public funds they say should be invested in youth development centers and employment opportunities for young people. The coalition is also calling on local leaders to remove police officers from schools, shutter juvenile detention facilities and provide free transportation passes to the city’s youth.”
https://nationalfile.com/government-funded-youth-groups-foster-care-providers-agitate-for-george-floyd/