Youth Organizing Leadership Academy (YOLA)
Background:
Our mission is to organize and empower low income Maryland residents to achieve transformative change. We cultivate relationships with and between people, organizations and other groups to promote grassroots power and cohesion in Baltimore and beyond. By providing opportunities for policy education, discourse and action we build resilient grassroots power among those historically shut out of economic and political life. We center the leadership of those most directly impacted by injustice – racism, poverty, trauma, addiction, criminalization.
In our Youth Organizer Leadership Academy (YOLA) youth leaders experience community organizing and build connections to the powerful activist organizing legacy of Baltimore City. The program will grow your leadership identiy and skills and guide you in envisioning the right next steps for you - whether working or more education - with a lens on equity, justice, joy and peace. Step up and take the torch to ingite your community to fight for the future we deserve.
Connect youth leaders to the sources of their own personal and political power
Expand the base of Communities United to include underrepresented youth
Encourage and equip youth to address problems in their schools or communities by organizing
Expand the understanding of how local, state, and federal policy changes happen and the role of community members to advocate for those changes
Responsibilities:
- Attend and participante in 4 work days per week (Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm)
- Actively engage in activities and learning sessions
- Represent YOLA, a program of Communities United, among peers, your community and other organizations & electeds
- With other organizers and leaders, plan and implement activities, plans and projects.
Expectations:
- Arrive ON TIME.
- Treat other youth and adult leaders with respect at all times.
- Communicate effectively with fellow youth and adult leaders in a timely manner.
- Participate to the fullest extent possible.
- Complete tasks to the best of your ability.
- Work as a team and support your peers.
Termination Policy:
- Verbal abuse
- 2 No Call No Shows
- Missing 2 Sessions in a row without documented excuse
- Insubordination
Compensation:
- This session of YOLA is part of Baltimore City's Youthworks program, but for those who demonstrate desire, growth and good work practices will be invited to continue as paid youth organizers.
Supervision:
YOLA will be supervised by adult staff of Communities United, but we support self-determination and expect that program rules and governance will be developed by the cohort. The program will operate using masks and social distancing in indoor spaces when not actively eating and drinking.