The 2022 Summer Change Makers Institute culminated in an invigorating and insightful Civic Expo, showcasing the deep learning and enthusiasm of our youth participants.
We were fortunate to work with hundreds of teens in the summer of 2022 tackling some of the foremost challenges of our time, from voting rights and youth voter engagement to cancel culture to immigration reform to reproductive rights. At the Civic Expo, the youth leaders shared their experiences and learnings from the Summer institute with peers and adult allies in the civic engagement space with a goal of building intergenerational alliances to promote positive progress.
The youth leaders created Activation Stations centered on racial justice, climate justice, gender and reproductive justice, the criminal justice system, and health justice. The youth-led stations invited attendees to grapple with their own privilege in a Racial Justice Privilege Walk, learn more about the opioid epidemic through Health Outcomes Tarot Readings, examine the ways in which gender and sexuality influence life outcomes via the Game of Life: Uterus Edition, face their fate in a Mock Trial, and play Climate Policy Water Pong.
We invite you to view photos from this fabulous event and watch the highlight reel below so you too can experience the power and passion of YVote youth!
Learning about Climate Policy and how we can preserve our environment via a game of water pong The Racial Justice group led participants through a privilege walk activity The Health Justice group gave tarot card readings centered on health outcomes in our current health care system Debriefing the many, many learnings of the day with youth and adult allies YVote Change Makers! Can your gender and sexuality impact life outcomes? Yes! And we learned how in this Game of Life. Co-founder and Executive Director Sanda Balaban with two YVote Lead Facilitators, Kenisha and Mia! The YVote Summer Institute is a party! Our Mock Trial team, including lawyers, a judge, and a bailiff. Who had a GREAT time at the Civic Expo? Raise your hand! Welcome, welcome!