Register to join this free, hourlong, online conversation with your EmbraceRace community: Tuesday, Feb. 27, 5:30 p.m. PT/ 8:30 p.m. ET.Why We Gather. “Nothing about us without us.” You’ve probably heard the rallying cry and support the sentiment in principle. However, for most children and teens, the practice is dramatically different, especially for young people who are poor, undocumented or in mixed-status families, LGBTQI, of color, or hold other marginalized identities.Happily, some organizations are lifting up youth voices, and it’s crucial that we learn what they have to teach us. We’ll be joined by members of Youth Funding Youth Ideas to talk about some ways adult allies can increase youth voice and youth leadership and to share their model and best practices. Come on by – and, if you can’t, register anyway and we’ll send you a link to the recording later.

Guardians, parents, teachers, social workers, uncles, grandmothers—you’re all invited. Registering ensures that you will receive the after-event recording and resources whether you attend live or not.

Agenda

8:30 to 8:40 p.m. ET: Andrew and Melissa of EmbraceRace introduce our guests and frame the larger conversation about centering youth voices in change making work.
8:40 to 9:10 p.m. ET: Adriana, Felix, Karina, and Ashley share their experiences as youth empowering youth change makers and creators.
9:10 to 9:25 p.m. ET: Q & A with the EmbraceRace community.
9:25 to 9:30 p.m. ET: Closing thoughts.

Adriana Gonzalez is a senior in high school and a community philanthropist for Youth Funding Youth Ideas (YFYI). She has been working at YFYI for 4 years now. Adriana believes that youth voice is important because it gives youth a chance to express how they feel about certain issues going on in their community. She is interested in becoming a veterinarian and on her free time she likes to binge watch Harry Potter movies.

Felix René Andam is a community philanthropist at YFYI.  Aside from being a philanthropist, Felix is also a part of the San Francisco Youth Commission, Student Council, and MYEEP Summer and School Year Programs. He is passionate about youth homelessness as well as creating economic and educational opportunities for undocumented and immigrant youth.

Karina Arenas, more popularly known as Kiki, is a 17 year old San Franciscan. She’s been with YFYI since 2016. Kiki is an avid high school student (focusing mainly on mathematics and biology), who aims to be a surgeon or a medical researcher. She creates in her free time through mediums of acrylics, watercolor, clay, and pencil. Kiki thinks youth voice is not only essential for progress, but also believes in the statement that, “the youth are the future.” Youth should be able to speak and they deserve to be listened to because it is the youth that will reshape the world.Ashley Naomi Rodriguez is a 23-year old Xicana from San Francisco. She became a community philanthropist at the age of sixteen for Youth Funding Youth Ideas and now oversees the program. She has dedicated her time to helping projects develop, ensuring community voice is present in the decision-making, and uplifting youth leadership.