FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David Terry
Braven, david.terry@bebraven.org
CHICAGO–AUGUST 22. 2024–A dynamic panel of youth leaders and seasoned community advocates gathered yesterday in Chicago to discuss the critical role young people play in shaping the nation’s future. Hosted by the nonprofits Braven, City Year Chicago, and One Million Degrees, the event brought together a diverse group to explore the challenges and opportunities facing today’s youth and to inspire action. They convened at Morningstar’s downtown headquarters.
Adrienne Samuels Gibbs, an award winning Journalist, moderated a lively discussion on a range of topics, including the importance of local elections, youth voter turnout, and the impact of young people’s voices on policy making. She spoke with the following community advocates:
- Chakena Perry, Senior Policy Advocate, Environmental Health at Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC); and,
- Erick Deshaun Dorris, Midwest Regional Director at Young Invincibles.
Samuels Gibbs facilitated a thought-provoking discussion with a panel of inspiring young leaders on the indispensable nature of civic engagement. The panelists, representing diverse backgrounds and experiences, shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities facing young voters, and discussed strategies for increasing youth participation in the democratic process. Participants included Emily Ibarra from Braven, B Goode from City Year Chicago, and Shanna Landheart from One Million Degrees.
“To cultivate a more equitable and just society, we must invest in developing the next generation of leaders and encourage them to share their authentic stories and opinions,” said Aimée Eubanks Davis, Founder & CEO of Braven. “Our young people are the architects of tomorrow, and by empowering them to become active participants in their communities, we are building a stronger, more inclusive future for all.”
“Speaking up about things that matter is super important,” said Braven Fellow Emily Ibarra, a rising senior at National Louis University. “By sharing our experiences and listening to each other, we can become empowered, informed, and active citizens who work together to create a fair and just world for everyone.”
Valencia Koker, Senior Vice President and Executive Director at City Year Chicago, emphasized the significance of youth voice in civic discourse. “Young people bring a fresh perspective and a deep understanding of the issues affecting their generation,” she said. “Their voices are essential to a healthy debate on what is pivotal for society.”
Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of One Million Degrees, highlighted the importance of understanding the youth voice in driving policy changes. “By centering the experiences of young people, we can create policies that truly address the challenges they face and pave the way for greater educational equity,” he said.
The event concluded with a call to action for attendees to become more involved in their communities and to support organizations working to empower young people.
As nonpartisan organizations, Braven, City Year Chicago, and One Million Degrees strive to create a space for youth to share their perspectives on critical issues. These conversations do not reflect the official stances of our organizations.
About Braven, City Year, and One Million Degrees:
Founded in 2013, Braven empowers promising, underrepresented young people—first-generation college students, students from low-income backgrounds, and/or students of color—with the skills, confidence, experiences, and networks necessary to transition from college to a strong first job or graduate school. Braven is embedded within institutions of higher education and partners with employers to build cutting-edge career education into the undergraduate experience for low-income and first-generation college goers and provides students with a network of supporters and a sense of belonging. Braven Fellows are persisting in college and achieving exciting levels of internship and job attainment.
City Year is a trailblazing, youth-powered organization with a dual mission: expanding educational equity for students furthest from opportunity and developing diverse leaders through national service. Research shows the more time a student spends with a City Year AmeriCorps member serving as student success coach, the better the student outcomes—academically, socially and emotionally. A public-private partnership, City Year is a proud member of AmeriCorps, operating in 29 U.S. cities with international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Today, nearly 40,000 alums continue to lead and serve where they live and work.
One Million Degrees (OMD) accelerates community college students’ progress on career pathways to economic mobility. OMD’s holistic support model is designed to support community college students as they work toward degrees and careers. From tutors and coaches to financial assistance and professional development, OMD helps community college students succeed in school, work, and life, transforming their futures and the futures of those around them for generations. Currently, OMD serves scholars in all seven of the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and is scaling to reach over 3000 community college scholars by 2026 through our unique partnership with CCC. In addition to direct services, OMD partners with employers across industries to build on-ramps to in-demand jobs through internships and apprenticeships and supports institutions nationwide to design and implement models of holistic student support. Through this growing body of work, OMD continues to have a profound impact in Chicagoland while becoming a national model for sustainable, scalable, and systemic change.
