Youth4Change Alliance Blog

This Affects Every RI Youth!

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 20:39:00 GMT

One Year Later

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:51:00 GMT

Free Minds Free People

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 17:49:00 GMT

It's going to be great! A concentrated taste of Providence with a movement in stepping towards social justice. What does it mean for a mind to be free and how can a collective group of individuals fight for what's right? find out more at Free Minds Free People. - Izzy

I think that the Free Minds Free People Conference will be a great experience for everyone who attends. I believe that many people will learn a lot from ths event because it's supporting all under-served youth, students and particularly people of color. Teaching students about inequalities and injustices is going to help them in the future. It's also teaching them how to take action in their future. I hope that this event is exciting and a great learning experience. -Corey

I feel like this workshop is going to be great. I'm a little nervoius because I'm going to have to do different roles for my organization. I'm going to be selling t-shirts and doing registration but I'm mostly nerous/anxious about meeting facilitation. I'm going to be facilitating meetings at FMFP and I'm going to need some prepping which will be happening tomorrow. I feel like I'm doing a lot but that's what I'm here for, to challenge myself and to see how far I'm willing to go. -Allex

The Free Minds Free People Conference is a day or two away! I'm excited! I know Providence is going to be crowded with people. I'm mostly excited for the news friends I know I will make and for the workshops. The last conference I went to was last summer in Detroit. I had a lot of fun at the workshops learning new things from the views society has on women to learning about other cities' Youth Bill of Rights. In Detroit I didn't know my way around so majority of the time I was surrounded by people I already knew. This year since it is in Providence, I know my wa around and can get to meet new people.-Ama

I'm interested in just going to the conference because I've never been to a huge three day conference. Also I'm ready to start my duties because it will be something new that I need to do besides writing speeches and talking with adults. Also I want to meet other people from around the country and learn what they do, and how they can help with the Transportation 4 Education campaign. -Niem

I'm excited for the Free Minds Free People conference because I will be able to meet new people from different states. Also I'll be able to be involved in different workshops that could be later beneficial in my future. I want to see how the conference will be held since I have never been to a conference like this once before. Overall I hope this would be successful. -Yinka

What I think about FMFP? Well I'm just waiting to see what happens. I don't really know what to expect. I mean I have an idea based off of what I have been hearing and everything I've heard has been good so I can't wait for it to finally happen after months of talking bout it. What I'm most interested in is seeing how many peopel show up and how different they are. I can't wait to see how many people actually care. -Jackie

Firing of Providence Teachers

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:35:00 GMT

So the teachers are getting fired because we have a $70 million deficit. The immediate action goes straight to our education. First we had a debate to change the way high school students receive a diploma because educational standards weren't being met and now we're going to fire the teachers who provides us the education. So where do we go from here? I personally feel we are going nowhere. To the people who feel like it doesn't concern them because they are seniors, this effects the younger generation such as your brothers, sisters or cousins or other family members. –Diana

I'm almost a senior! I don't want a stranger writing about me for college recommendations when they don't really know me. Something needs to be done to determine which teachers are progressing and who's not- we need to keep track of teachers. How can we distinguish "good" teachers from the "bad"? - Mirien

I am really sad that the city of Providence is trying to terminate the teachers. I have gotten really close with all my teachers and I would hate to start all over. I feel that older teachers have more experience and the fact they are trying to hire new teachers is very insane. - Matee

I think that in the position the mayor was in there was nothing else he could do. He only had two days to decide which teachers, if any, were to have their jobs terminated. However, I think that the teachers should have been informed better about the situation instead of just receiving termination letters. -Drazy

It's not about seniority but about the individual. We NEED teachers that are effective, point blank; WE NEED TO LEARN! - Elisa

What do you think?

Proposed H.S. Graduation Requirement Changes

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 20:27:00 GMT

He is an 11th grader at The Met and I care about him deeply. He values his education, and by cramming his, and everybody else's, whole year studying for a two hour test, regardless of how rigorous their projects were, internships they've had, and preparation for college, excellent grades, looses its value. I strongly believe there is another way to enthuse kids to highten and improve their academics skills and scores.

I also believe the dropout rate will go up. When the principal made an announcement on this matter I overheard two juniors conversating about how if they do not pass or get any diploma they believe they will end up dropping out. I shook my head in discouragement, and it tore my heart. Why? Because I want what's best for them.

I think the ACT is good enough of testing, and show of readiness for college, and students should take aside some time prepping up for college and the ACT; not for the NECAP. I don't think we'll be seeing students fill out bubbles at their jobs and careers. If this did would've affected me, the anxious, lousy test-taker that I am, would probably drop all of my projects, internships, homework, college classes, and probably pull an all-nighter for a two hour test that will quote, unquote, "determine" if I am worthy of getting a diploma.

If they do fail the NECAP then that will show what the student needs to work on more, as opposed to feeling dissapointed they failled and helpless of not being able to retake the test for the last time. I believe that the NECAP shows an impression of students' work as meaningless. Us students are not categories, but valuable individuals valuying our education.

I love the Met. My attendance and experience there has been a
life-changing one for me. I have never met such amazing, caring,
helpful and supportive teachers ever, and I don't think I will ever
meet such outstanding teachers like the ones at The Met. I love the
Met because it gives all of us an opportunity to be ourselves, follow
our dreams and passions through internships and projects. They don't
just have one turtor, all of the teachers at the Met are turtors, as
well as mentors. Thanks to the Met I am now more outspoken, confident, and not afraid to be myself. We have what we call exhibitions, every trimester and display all of the work we have done throughout the
trimester. We show how much we have grown as individuals and students as well with our academics. We also present our future stradegies on how we can improve on the subjects we are struggling with.

We don't need tests to show if we have skills or not, because the Met helps us grow. We were all born with skills, no matter your abilities, we don't need a test to determine if we have it or not. There is no such thing as a students without skills. And if you don't believe it then reach
out to them and try to understand where they come fromn. Not with
papers with bubbles printed on them. How does the Met graduate
students? That they've shown that they have grown. Grown as a person
and students. That they are ready for college and whatever obstacles
life is going to offer them. That they've shown rigorous project, help
and benefit the community. If I were to be affected by this, all of
this would seem meaningless. And I will have to spend my entire year
anxiously prepping for a test.

With this proposal I do not see it as one student at a time, but as
all students at one time. The only thing NECAP is good for is a
stradegy of showing students' proficiency and non-proficiency, as
opposed to determining worthy of graduating.

Why Winter Is a Nightmare for Providence Youth and How You Can Help

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 15:05:00 GMT

Currently in the city of Providence, high school students who live within 3 miles of their school are not provided transportation and are expected to walk, get a ride, or in the case for most students, pay their own bus fare. Recent RIPTA fare increases now force many students to pay $5 a day to get to and from school. This expense does not include travel to after-school activities and jobs, opportunities known to increase a student’s academic performance and increase their odds of receiving college acceptance and scholarships. The $5 or more a day students spend in bus fare is clearly a financial burden for families in a district where 82% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch (Providence Public Schools, Fact Sheet 2008-2009).   For families who can’t afford the expense, students must either walk in the cold or bunk school. If it were you, which would you choose?

Youth 4 Change (Y4C), an alliance led by four non-profit youth organizations—Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE), Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM), Young Voices, and Youth In Action (YIA)—has been pushing for more youth voice and influence in public policy and decision making. Our Transportation 4 Education campaign is aimed at decreasing student barriers to attending school and assuring youth right to accessible transportation.

This month, Y4C was selected by The Pepsi Refresh Project to compete in a national competition to receive $50,000 to implement a public awareness campaign. The Pepsi Refresh Project is an evolution of the Refresh Everything initiative Pepsi launched in 2009. In an effort to support those who generate innovative, optimistic ideas, the Pepsi Refresh Project has awarded more than $13 million in 2010 to move communities forward. Organizations can apply for grants to benefit a variety of projects and supporters can vote for the best ideas for funding.

Y4C is in the running for a $50,000 grant to fund their Transportation 4 Education public awareness campaign. This campaign will include youth-produced and youth-designed billboard ads, radio ads, and television commercials about student barriers to attending school.

We are in competition against 1,000 businesses and organizations. The top ten will receive the funds to implement their idea. Y4C needs YOUR VOTE to win!

How You Can Help:

1.   Vote Every Day!
-       Online: Go to www.y4cri.org and click Vote For This Idea

-       Text: Send 104586 to Pepsi (73774)

2.   Share this Post!

-       Include the Y4C video and voting information

3.   Encourage a Friend to Vote!

4.   Learn more about Y4C!

-       Visit and text Y4C to 313131 to sign up for text message alerts and updates

Y4C gets nothing if enough votes aren’t gathered. Vote today! Each vote gets Y4C closer to their goal. Voters can login or text everyday. The contest ends Dec. 31st.

DARE's School to Prison Pipeline Survey

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:11:00 GMT

Mayoral Candidates' Report Cards Are In

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:55:00 GMT

Y4C held a youth-led Mayoral Candidates Forum attracting 175 people to listen to the mayoral candidates’ opinions and policies when it comes to youth issues. Attendees were given a packet of materials essential to participating in the forum, including the program for the evening’s event, red, yellow and green cards, and a report card.

As the mayoral candidates answered Y4C’s questions, the colored cards started to pop up in the air. The red card was used as a sign of disapproval; yellow meant that the person was unsure or neutral about the candidate’s position on an issue; while green indicated a favorable attitude towards the candidate’s answer. Some audience members even used a combination of two colors.

While the colored cards provided great visual feedback for the candidates, the tables were turned even further. Y4C found it imperative to quantitatively measure the audiences’ responses to the candidates’ questions; and the report cards did just that. Youth became teachers and mayoral-hopefuls became students vying for good marks. Participants were asked to grade each candidate’s answer using an A through F grade-key; A meaning “I strongly agree with the candidate’s response” and F meaning “I strongly disagree with the candidate’s response.”

At the end of the event over 80 report cards were turned in for tallying. Candidates received individual grades for each question asked and a final overall grade averaging the individual question grades together. Y4C has published a more detailed report card and video on its website: http://www.y4cri.org/forum, but here is a sneak peek of the results:

FINAL OVERALL GRADES

Angel Taveras	A-
Steven Costantino	B+
John Lombardi	B+
Jonathan Scott	B-
Christopher Young	D+

Reflection on Forum

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:25:00 GMT

YOUTH TO CHALLENGE POTENTIAL MAYORS IN DISCUSSION

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:57:00 GMT