Power U Youth worked with other youth organizations to coordinate a Miami Youth Action Conference. Our goal was to bring youth organizations together to strategize how we can gain power by working together as youth, even though we are all working on different campaigns.
The YOUTH CONFERENCE was a success! There were workshops about gentrification, education, homophobia, sexism, and we spent quality time learning about each other's different struggles. Everyone learned a lot about each other and organizing issues. Power U took everyone on a tour of Miami, seeing the signs of gentrification in our own neighborhoods, and talking with the others about what is happening in their cities and towns. The similarities were a real eye-opener.
All the conference participants jumped in to help us with our organizing campaign at Miami Jackson Senior High. We had developed a petition demanding that the administration stick to their promises to keep the bathrooms in sanitary condition, because they are disgusting! So, on Friday after school we were 30 young activists signing students on the petition and encouraging them to get involved, we got MORE THAN 200 signatures!
In addition to the petition, we have developed a newsletter "for students by students." The students have written about the problems with the school and how they should be fixed, and about their rights as students. For example, most of us didn't know that students have the right to privacy in their personal possessions, so we put that in the newsletter. More students should know about their rights.
We are learning that if we are organized we can have the power to make important changes in our school and community!
For a free copy of the most recent Youth Newsletter or to get involved in the youth organizing at Jackson Sr. High School: Call Julia Daniel 305-576-7449
Volunteers are needed and welcomed!