LIFTING NEW VOICES

Youth Leaders Speaking Out on Civil Rights

WHERE IS OUR VOICE?

Devin Devin Huynh & Jokim Bryant The Hidden Genius Project Los Angeles, California

In discussions of racism, classism, and politics, where are the voices of young people? This video is a poetic expression of youth voice by members of The Hidden Genius Project, which mentors Black male youth in technology creation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills to transform their lives and communities.

ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER

Habiba Khatun and Matthew Harmon
EcoWorks/Youth Energy Squad
Detroit, Michigan

Habiba Khatun, a senior at Detroit International Academy, examines the human rights to access to safe drinking water --- and the public health impacts and human consequences of not having running water at home

ONLINE LEARNING BILL OF RIGHTS

Marjana, Sam, Ama, Lourdes, Nazifa, Mykel and Emerson Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan (DAYUM) Detroit, Michigan

DAYUM fights for seats at the table for marginalized youth, who here discuss the Online Learning Bill of Rights which presents their rights to be comfortable while learning, privacy, anti-racist curriculum, break from standardized tests and qualified, certified teachers.

YOUTH VOICE AND EDUCATIONAL REFORM

Mohammad Muntakim and Dillon Cathro 482Forward Detroit, Michigan

482Forward is a citywide education organizing network in Detroit. Here, Mohammad Muntakim provides youth perspectives on social identity, social cohesion, public health, and educational reform.

GEN Z ORGANIZING FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Joselyn Cortes-Samano, Kasandra Negrete, and Lindsey Matson Congress of Communities Detroit, Michigan

Youth discuss research on a social issue that is impacting their mental health – theirs, and others around them.

RACIAL DISPARITIES IN SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS

Cristina Seals and Al White Action Communication and Education Reform (ACER) Duck Hill, Mississippi

In the tradition of civil rights activism in Mississippi, Cristina and Al speak about how racism affects minority students in school suspensions and push-out from school.

More of the latest work from the youth civil Rights academy

Check out videos from our social justice fellows below or visit our pages with resources for students and teachers!

Social Justice Fellows

working for a more inclusive and equitable Metropolitan Detroit

The Social Justice Fellows strive to educate, serve, and advocate in the spirit of inciting a more inclusive and equitable Metro Detroit. A bright and talented team of high school students, the Fellows collaborate on projects throughout the year centered on social justice and youth voice. In 2019, they planned and facilitated a regional conference, where they delivered peer-to-peer education on issues facing their communities. In 2020, they organized an online political education week on diversifying high school curricula. Most recently, during the summer of 2020, the Fellows participated in a community-based research internship. Taking full control over the creative process, they each conceptualized and produced a video module to address an issue of their choosing related to inequalities, prejudice, and discrimination. In their modules, they shared their lived experiences, their background research, and their calls to action.  To learn more, follow @mdequityfellows on Twitter and Instagram!
Jordan, from Grosse Point Public Schools, talks about her experiences in moving back and forth between Detroit and the suburbs.
Nilay, from Farmington High School, explains what it is like to belong to a “model minority” which faces inequalities in society.
Alesha, from Walled Lake Consolidated School District, talks about equal opportunities in education.
Sunidhi, from Novi Community Schools, explains why the issue is not just youth voice, but youth power.
Atishay, from Farmington High School, questions the inequalities in student access to mental health services.
Siena, FROM Grosse Pointe South High School, is a high school student whose curriculum favors white suburban youth but not students of color.
Aniyah, from Harrison/Farmington High School, questions whether the Education System Create An Inclusive And Equitable, Multicultural Society?
Click here to check out all of our resources!
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The Youth Civil Rights Academy aligns itself with the University of Michigan's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and values.
More can be found at https://diversity.umich.edu
Diversity respects the wide range and variety of individuals and issues; equity refers to the fairness of giving voice to concerns that affect civil and human rights; and inclusion provides opportunity for participation in issues that affect these rights.

University of Michigan School of Social Work University of Michigan Academic Innovation