The time for courage is now.
I know the world looks bleak. I share your grief and rage – not only that Donald Trump will once again take office, but that so many of our fellow citizens chose him and the values he stands for. It is an affront to our humanity and a very real threat to our lives.
But this is not our country’s darkest hour. The hard truth is that this nation was founded on imperialism – the stealing of lands, the ravaging of communities, and the enslaving of peoples. Despite all odds, Indigenous peoples, Africans and their descendants, Asian and Latino immigrants, women, queers, laborers, among many others courageously fought for their freedom.
Yesterday’s election demonstrates that white supremacy continues to be deeply woven into the fabric of our nation. And there is much to fear: the dismantling of our social safety nets, our reproductive and civil rights, pathways to citizenship for immigrants, our environmental protections. Yes, it feels like an unraveling. But we cannot allow this to be where the story ends. In spite of our deep political divisions, we still have more in common than difference – and we must let this moment catalyze our movements and mobilize us to come together to continue our fight.
It’s really hard to not be cynical, especially when somebody who has historically not really cared so much for these issues gets elected. I think it’s important to let the youth know that there’s still something that they can do, to empower them to act about what they’re passionate about even though it might be hard.
~Cherish Lodico
We at yli know that, once again, we must stand together to protect and uplift our communities. We know that this impacts us directly: our young people, our staff, our families, our neighborhoods. As the new president takes office, Youth Leadership Institute commits to scaling up our organizing and policy efforts at the local and state level, and to standing ten toes down behind our youth as they share what our communities need and lead the way to a future where young people can thrive.
yli’s commitments
Besides voting, there are many ways to be civically engaged. You can attend town hall meetings to voice concerns directly to local leaders, join or support community organizations that focus on important issues, or volunteer for local causes like food drives or neighborhood clean-ups. Participating in protests or advocacy campaigns is another way to raise awareness for specific issues. You can also contact elected officials through letters, phone calls, or social media to express your views. Finally, running for local office or supporting candidates who align with your values helps shape policies in your community directly.
Over the next 4 years and beyond, yli commits to doubling down on the following actions, requested by our youth:
- Providing concrete, material support to youth through:
- Program stipends
- Opportunities for employment at yli, and support in pursuing positions at other organizations through our connections, resumé building and letters of reference.
- Support with post-high school trajectories, including support on college applications, and provision of scholarships, fellowships, and internships.
- Providing counternarratives and storytelling that combats some of the mis and disinformation about immigrants and immigration.
- Supporting youth in navigating the world following the election through:
- Youth-friendly information about policies and movements on channels where youth can find it, like TikTok and Instagram.
- Political education for our youth leaders that breaks down the issues and helps them articulate and implement their solutions
- Supporting our youth to organize and participate in protests, while working to ensure their safety
- Amplifying youth voices and acting as a conduit for youth voice to political leaders and movements
- Creating safe spaces for youth to have nuanced conversations about what’s happening and how they feel about it
- Creating spaces of celebration, hope and joy, and sharing practices that promote self-care and healing