Youth Communication

“Restorative Justice is respect. Respect for all, even those who are different from us; even those who seem to be our enemies. Respect reminds us of our interconnectedness, but also of our differences. Respect insists we balance concerns for all parties. If we pursue justice as respect, we will do justice restoratively.” - Howard Zehr ✨

A heartfelt thank you to Mychal Pagan, Creative Artist, and Cheyanne, Fair Futures Advocate for Youth in Care, for sharing your powerful stories of navigating the child welfare and criminal justice systems. Your journeys toward restorative justice remind us of the strength found in community and the power of healing through respect, kindness, and empathy. 🙌

Mychal Pagan, founder of Papillion Creative Agency, also lends his talents as a volunteer photographer and videographer for Youth Communication. Cheyanne is an advocate at Fair Futures, a youth-led advocacy movement and coalition of 100+ organizations and foundations. Fair Futures is dedicated to ensuring that young people in New York City’s foster care system have access to the long-term, comprehensive support they need to reach their potential.💪

Thank you for your incredible partnership and commitment to empowering youth voices and creating lasting change. 🌟

“We’re thrilled to partner with Goddard Riverside’s Options Center! 🌟 .instituteteam 🙌

Their dedication to supporting first-gen and low-income students in achieving their college dreams is inspiring. Our rising juniors and seniors had an amazing time learning about the vital resources and guidance provided for their college journey, financial aid, and career paths. 📚✨

Be sure to follow their social media for updates on scholarships and opportunities! Also, a special shoutout to our 2024 Summer Writing Workshop 2024 ending picnic in Central Park - an amazing celebration of our writers’ achievements, full of fun activities and reflections on a fantastic summer at YC. 🌳🎉

We were honored to welcome NYC Council Member Rita Joseph to our office, where she connected with YC writers to discuss the critical challenges teens face today, from education and social pressures to mental health and emotional well-being. 🙌🏻

Council Member Rita Joseph’s commitment to bringing journalism and student newspapers to more NYC schools is inspiring and aligns perfectly with our mission to amplify youth voices. Her work to change legislation ensures that students have the tools and platforms to explore their identities, challenge the status quo, and uplift their peers.✨

Together, we’re building a future where every young person’s story can be told. 🗞️✍🏼

voices

Learn more about how our SEL programs can support your students’ growth and how our professional development workshops can enhance your facilitation strategies.

Wednesday, September 4, 2024
11-11:45 a.m. (EDT)
Zoom: bit.ly/YCInfo924

“Tell me what matters most to you.” It’s a simple question, but one that’s rarely asked. Joe Madonia from the Warner Fund did just that, sparking an inspiring conversation with our writers about what they care about and the changes they want to see in the world. We’re deeply grateful for your visit to our Summer Writing Workshop and for supporting our teens with such genuine care and insight. Thank you for amplifying their voices in a truly meaningful way! 🙌🏻

Our YC 2024 Writers share how the Summer Writing Intensive Program has shaped their journey. From deep reflection to discovering a strong sense of community, these experiences have made a lasting impact. 🌟 Read what Dasha and Blonshe had to say about their time with YC and stay tuned for more! 📝

.zubareva4 🙌🏻

The Summer Writing Workshop is about more than just storytelling - it’s about expanding horizons and exploring future possibilities. Huge thanks to the Pinkerton Foundation for visiting us and welcoming us to your office. Your journalism insights were truly inspiring. We’re grateful for your continued partnership in amplifying youth voices since 1993! ✨📝

Blakney Smith

We are so excited to share that YC writers Spencer Katz and Janay Collins have been named finalists for this year’s Media for a Just Society Awards by ! We are so proud of their hard work and courage to share such personal and powerful stories. Finalists in the Youth Media category, both stories have - and will continue to have - a positive impact on other teens. Congratulations to ALL the finalists!

The youth writers attending our summer workshop greatly enjoyed their afternoon at the Center for Fiction with Mahogany L. Browne. The reading she provided from her novel Vinyl Moon was moving and really resonated with them in terms of the themes, characters, and Brooklyn setting. It was wonderful to see them open up with her and dive into the beautiful prompt that she generated from the sections of the novel that she read.

Browne also shared her experience around the power of - the theme of YC’s summer workshop – and provided openings for the writers to consider visions of their own futures.

Thank you to the Center for Fiction for hosting us in your writer-full and gorgeous space and giving signed copies of Mahogany’s book to each of the writers. Thank you to Mahogany for sharing your journey and inspiring this next generation of writers! This was a beautiful experience!

A monthly donation to the Youth Communication can make a huge impact!

❤️Donate: www.youthcoom.org/donate

Data shows that YC’s SEL programs are highly effective at creating classrooms where students are equipped to thrive academically and socially.

Extensive research has proven that personal and academic success are intertwined with emotional intelligence and social skills. Yet, many educators struggle to integrate SEL into their teaching practices effectively. YC is the solution. And your support matters!

With over 30 attendees Janelle presented her workshop “Communal is Personal: Helping Youth Process Public Violence and Death” where she talked about prolonged grief and its ramifications as well as the effects that historical or communal events had on people. A great discussion followed, including participation from Maria Collins of New York Life Foundation (). NYLF is a YC grantee and an NACG sponsor.

“After a while, I managed to feel neutral about q***rness. I became more casual and cool about it.” writes Adrian in her story about how q***r friends helped beat her internalized lesbophobia.

“The choice was between seeing someone else live out my life and living it for myself. I wanted to live.” writes Marlin in this about accepting his trans identity and sharing his chosen name at school.

YC was proud to present at the 2024 National Social and Emotional Learning ( ) Conference. Our team loved connecting with attendees and other presenters - sharing our mutual love for high-quality SEL and creating real change in classrooms.

YC’s session, “Leveling Up: Helping Manage Academic Transitions Using SEL,” was a perfect fit for NSEL’s theme, “Building Community, Cultivating Change: The Movement for Expanded SEL Capacity.”

Thanks for having us !

“This past summer, when I was 16, I opened up to the idea of reconnecting with my father.” writes Jaya in this about renegotiating her familial boundaries after the birth of her half sister.

“What felt at the time like a failure was the first of many small successes.” writes Zi Qi in this about how she found help for her selective mutism with a caring counselor.

“It was the most freeing yet heartbreaking night of my life. I felt myself fill with breaths I didn’t know I had, floating like a balloon.” writes Arna in this about the relief and loss after separating from her father.

Youth Communication (YC) is working with the NYCPS’s Office of Student Pathways (OSP) to provide middle & high school staff curriculum and professional development to help support students’ success with their chosen post-secondary plans.

⭐️ Funded by OSP, this program is of NO COST to participants

➡️ Learn More & Register: youthcomm.org/rsrp

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
At no cost, schools can send teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, full-time CBO staff placed in schools, and administrators, and each participant will receive:

Their choice of a set of materials for one of our SEL programs. Includes 20+ fully scripted sessions, curriculum guide and 20 anthologies for students.

Four hours of professional development to orient participants to the curriculum.

Access to follow-up workshops, office hours, and technical support.

CTLE hours for their participation in the professional development sessions.

Youth Communication (YC) is working with the NYCPS’s Office of Student Pathways (OSP) to provide middle & high school staff curriculum and professional development to help support students’ success with their chosen post-secondary plans.

⭐️ Funded by OSP, this program is of NO COST to participants

➡️ Learn More & Register: youthcomm.org/rsrp

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
At no cost, schools can send teachers, counselors, paraprofessionals, full-time CBO staff placed in schools, and administrators, and each participant will receive:

Their choice of a set of materials for one of our SEL programs. Includes 20+ fully scripted sessions, curriculum guide and 20 anthologies for students.

Four hours of professional development to orient participants to the curriculum.

Access to follow-up workshops, office hours, and technical support.

CTLE hours for their participation in the professional development sessions.

“I felt hopeful and determined as I thought about what I wanted my future to be.” writes Saphir in this about pursuing her educational dreams as a former refugee minor.

The YC Spring Benefit is just under 4 weeks away! Space is limited!

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we honor three outstanding changemakers and raise money to continue elevating youth voices through our writing, publishing, and education programs!

🌷Tickets & Sponsorship: youthcomm.org/spring-benefit

“I felt like a new person in his presence, a person who deserved to see color, who deserved to be happy.” writes Rose in this about how being vulnerable with others about housing and mental health issues changed her life.