YOUTH VOICE

YOUTH VOICE is an organization of Detroit youth who build their own power to create change. With chapters in Cody High School, Detroit Central High School, Southwestern High School, Henry Ford High School and Martin Luther King High School, and new chapters developing in Osborn and Denby High Schools, YOUTH VOICE is growing in both the number of schools and youth participating. Participants mobilize their peers and advocate for better schools, safer and cleaner neighborhoods, efficient transportation systems, employment, recreational opportunities, and the ability for them to provide input about policies that directly affect youth.

Results

• Since the YOUTH VOICE summit November 9, 2010 the YOUTH VOICE Executive Board has met with various city officials including Deputy Mayor Saul Green, Detroit Public Schools Police Chief Grimes, Detroit Police Chief Godbee to work on solutions to youth violence in Detroit.  Follow the campaign here.
• YOUTH VOICE is currently a contributing member of a task force that has been federally mandated to create a City of Detroit youth violence reduction plan.  YOUTH VOICE is working to ensure that specific elements of a Ceasefire model be included in the City of Detroit's plan. Read more about ceasefire and youth violence reduction here.
• The Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody High School YOUTH VOICE chapter has secured 75 additional DDOT bus passes for students, opened an additional security entrance to the school to ease flow of student into the school and cut down on truancy rates, and they are currently working with DDOT to move a bus route closer to the school to reduce the risk of them becoming victims of violence.
• The YOUTH VOICE chapter at King High School has won routine cleanings in their high school bathrooms.