Young, Not Silent: Youth-LED Program
Young, Not Silent is our youth-led group open to all young people in grades 7-12.Our meetings are every other Wednesday from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at our office:
2024 Dates
February 14, 28
March 13, 27
April 10, 24
May 8
Each year, Young, Not Silent members come together to develop tools and advocate for youth priorities. Young people also earn a stipend for their participation. Past projects include creating a Youth Platform for Cincinnati, hosting candidate forums for City Council & School Board candidates, developing policy pitches around dress code, and leading community dialogues on mental health.
Young, Not Silent created the Youth Platform for Cincinnati during the 2020-2021 School Year.
YOUTH PLATFORM For cincinnati
What is the Youth Platform?
Youth at the Center is an organization that advances opportunities for young people in grades 7-12th to be seen, heard, and valued. YATC engages with young people through engagement, awareness building, and leadership development.
Young, Not Silent annual youth gathering provides youth the autonomy to make their choices about the things that they want to focus on and highlight. YNS began having meetings with young people and asked them "What Matters to You?".
Young, Not Silent Planning Members identified 5 Priority Areas:
Policing in Cincy
Addressing Injustice & Promoting Inclusion
Community Resources
Improving Quality of Life
Mental Health
The Youth Platform is solely focused on Improvement of Police-Youth Relations, Creating a More Welcoming Cincinnati, Expanding Community Resources, Improving Quality of Life, and Mental Health.
1. Improvement of Police-Youth Relations
a. Increase training for ALL police on effective youth engagement and de-escalation strategies.
b. Develop engagement opportunities between police and young people that allows young people to see the possibility of a positive relationship with police.
c. Emphasis on restorative practices in policing and crime prevention stopping the school to prison pipeline.
2. Creating a More Welcoming Cincinnati
a. Inclusion of Youth Voices: Recognizing young people as an asset in the city, develop a formalized youth engagement opportunity for young people to know how the city works and have their voice heard.
b. Inclusion of Diverse Identities: Increased representation and support BIPOC youth and LGBTQ+ youth at City Hall.
c. Inclusive Opportunities: Increased mentorship and employment programs that equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to pursue their future.
3. Expanding Community Resources
a. Access to teen specific programming at rec centers, community centers, libraries.
b. Investment in youth councils that allow young people to positively impact their neighborhoods.
c. Dedicated place for youth initiatives at City Hall.
4. Improving Quality of Life
a. Mobility: Provide students with walkable routes and accessible transportation that allow them to get to school and navigate the city safely.
b. Environment: Creating a sense of community pride by pushing for better care of the environment by expanding trash and recycling in neighborhood.
c. Business districts should partner with neighborhood business associations to design youth friendly spaces where they can feel welcome.
5. Mental Health
a. Increased access to mental, physical, and emotional health resources and services for young people in and out of school.
Endorsed By:
Cincinnati City Council Candidates:
Jaime Castle
Michelle Dillingham
Galen Gordon
Kurt Grossman
Jackie Frondorf
Reggie Harris
Meeka Owens
Youth At The Center is a 501(c)(3) organization and cannot endorse candidates. Information about candidates who have endorsed the Youth Platform is being provided to build support for the aims identified by Young, Not Silent members.