S.O.T.Y’s History
SOTY Exist because young voices needed to be heard.
BIPOC Youth have firsthand experience with issues like school shootings, chronic homelessness in McKeesport, police violence, food deserts, school failures, and voting rights barriers. By amplifying these harsh realities, we listen to the aspirations of young people for their communities.
In 2021, we launched The State of the Young (SOTY) project, reaching over 30 cities nationwide to listen to youth and their families, learning about their challenges and dreams. This initiative guides YVAC's investments, solutions, and policies, aligned with SOTY aspirations. KINDA LIKE A NORTH STAR
We believe in the power of storytelling and community to shape a brighter future. YVAC Disrupts Democratic Theater by challenging decision-makers who overlook youth realities, advocating for policies & alternative solutions that genuinely address their needs and aspirations.
OVer 80% of responders have very little access to fresh and affordable food and essentials .
Nearly 85% of responders are lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing.
Majority of respondents frequently witness the detrimental effects of underfunding in Black schools!
Youth Responders often lack access to safe recreational spaces, with many neighborhoods lacking adequate facilities and resources.
90% of respondents share aspirations for fully supportive mental & physical health services being available regularly.
90% of respondents have directly or indirectly witnessed police violence in their communities.
The State of The Young is a six-state tour designed to do deep listening and relational organizing with BIPOC Youth and their families about the issues that matters most to them + invest in their aspirations and solutions for a world that exist beyond those barriers.
We kicked off the tour @TheVoiceOfDetroiYouthSummit Aug 2-4!
Working in tandem with the summit/tour we launched the SOTY Expanse & Response fund; two opportunities to invest in the aspirations we hear during our listening.
In the spirit of innovation and resilience, the Expansion category invites visionary projects that seek to broaden the reach and impact of SOTY. From pioneering engagement strategies & harnessing technology for wider dissemination to providing traditional services for general engagement, we encourage initiatives that push the boundaries of possibility and amplify BIPOC voices.
he Response category calls for projects that directly confront the systemic injustices laid bare by recent events. Whether its dismantling oppressive systems, addressing mental health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, or advocating for police accountability in the aftermath of George Floyd's death, we seek initiatives that drive real, tangible change.
This is an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to join us in leveraging the insights gleaned from SOTY to drive transformative action and create lasting change. Literally created for EVERYDAY People!
- National Association Of Youth Organizing (N.A.Y.O)
- LWSC3 Community Circle
- Building Beyond Barriers LLC
- Greensboro Mutual Aid
- Detroit Heals Detroit
- Black Men Work
- Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan
- Black Liberation Autonomous Collective
- Radical Youth Collective
- OpenMIC HSV
- Flaws-n-All
- Black Youth Organizing Coalition Of Pittsburgh
State of The Young 2.0
