Youth Power Building Overview
RYSE is committed to youth power, youth leadership and youth organizing and through our cohorts.
Youth Power Building Internships
Richmond Youth Organizing Team (RYOT)
District Local Control Accountability Plan for Parents and Students (DLCAPS)
Young Stakeholders Program (YSP)
Immigrants Justice Fellow (IJF)
Richmond Youth Organizing Team (RYOT)
RYOT Interns develop leadership and public speaking skills, and receive academic and career goal setting support.
The RYOT is a group of youth interns who are grounded in social justice principles and values. Interns participate in leadership training, explore issues in their communities, develop community organizing skills, and coordinate events to educate their peers. Interns also receive the holistic support services and training provided by the other departments at RYSE.
For youth interested in organizing and changing policies that negatively affect our communities.
Work with a group of your peers to create a safe, healthy, and youth-friendly Richmond
RYOT programs are currently meeting virtually.
DLCAPS Fellows
DLCAPS Fellows are the youth representatives on the District Local Control Accountability Plan for Parents and Students (DLCAPS) Committee that brainstorms and collaborate on how to impact the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) in WCCUSD.
The role of the DLCAPS Fellows is to ensure that youth voice and opinions are implemented in the LCAP at the end of the year. They work together and advocate with and for their peers in school and hold space for students to share their needs and plan together. As a group they empower youth to speak out and take agency over their education.
Monthly Schedule:
Attend monthly DLCAPS committee meetings
Attend weekly fellow meetings with RYSE
Attend School Board meetings as needed
YSP
Young Stakeholders Program (YSP) is a unique, virtual program that provides leadership development and civic education for youth interested in increasing their knowledge of topics such as: racial justice, safety, equity and liberation. YSP aims to positively impact and cultivate youth leaders in their local communities.
This Cohort will participate in 8 weekly interactive workshops focused on redistricting and how it impacts future generations. YSP participants will earn a stipend and meet once a week for 8 weeks between March to May.
Workshops topics include:
Training/development
Analyzing public information,
Strategic planning and thinking
Develop creative action
Professional Development
Attend applicable meetings.
Link to apply: here
Immigrants Justice Fellow (IJF)
The immigrants Justice Fellowship is open to undocumented immigrant youth ages 13-21 of all ethnic backgrounds. IJF is for any youth who is interested and committed to learning, collaborating, and leading immigrants' justice efforts in their community.
The Immigrants Justice Fellow will
Research topics of interest within immigratoin and will develop a project of their choice: event, workshop, presentation, infographics, or zine and will present at the end of the year.
Support building the base of immigrant youth organizers in Contra Costa County
Support UndoClub outreach at RYSE
Fellowship Schedule (1-2 hours a week):
Monthly 1:1’s with supervisors
Attend bi-weekly Undocu Club Meetings on Wednesdays from 3pm-4pm
Independent research and planning
General Open Program to all youth ages 13-21:
Organizing Club
Organizing Club is an open space for youth interested in learning about social justice issues and working together with their peers to organize events, meetings, and local actions. In this space youth learn about the roots of organizing and strategize to transform their schools, neighborhoods and communities.
For more information about youth organizing internships:
Contact Ann Guiam at ann@rysecenter.org
In service to RYSE's Theory of Liberation, the purpose of the RYOT Organizing Club is to ensure that young people serve as key stakeholders and decision-makers on issues and policies impacting their individual and collective health and well-being, and spark the transformation of Richmond as a youth-friendly city.
RYOT is a group of both interns and RYSE members working together to create a safe, healthy, and youth-friendly Richmond through organizing campaigns and base-building.
RYOT's Reach
RYOT also engages youth in The California Endowment's (TCE) 10-year project called Building Healthy Communities, which is intended to support the development of communities where kids and youth are healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
Beginning in 2010 and for the next 10 years, this "place-based initiative" will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to improve the health in 14 California communities.
RYOT Core Principles
Young people have the emotional, physical, and political safety to acquire tools, skills, and resources they need to understand and change inequities.
Systems takeover by next generation leaders committed to a platform for liberation in which race, gender, sexuality, and/or asexual orientation are central.
No policy, investment, or practice about young people of color without young people of color.
Systems, both in policy and praxis, are responsive to the priorities and needs of young people as defined by young people.
““I have learned about organizing politically; by learning this I am able to figure out how to help my community. I have grown as a person by learning how to be more independent.””
Youth Power Building Resources
RYSE strives to be a space that meets the needs of Richmond and West Contra Costa County youth. For those who are unable to access the Center or whose needs are beyond the scope of our services, we offer these additional resources.
Looking for more information?
CONTACT:
Dalia Ramos, Culture & Engagement Program Manager
Rayana Butler, Member Engagement Coordinator
Lauryn Marshall, Member Engagement Coordinator
Isaiah Grant, Member Engagement Assistant
Jamileh Ebrahimi, Director of Programs and Organizing
Michelle Olivas, Youth Power Building Manager
Ann Guiam, Youth Power Building Coordinator
Clover Marie Alejandro, Youth Power Building Assistant
GET INVOLVED
You can help us make the difference. Whether it's through time or money, find ways to support our Youth Power Building work.