Youth Voice

YOUTH VOICE is an organization of over 400 Detroit youth coming together to build their own power and create change . Participants in YOUTH VOICE mobilize and advocate for better schools, safer and cleaner neighborhoods, youth employment, recreational opportunities, a more responsive system of care for youth, and allowing youth to meaningful input institutions and policies that directly affect them. 

With organizing help from the Harriet Tubman Center, YOUTH VOICE consists of youth, ages 13-19, from various agencies and schools across Detroit.

YOUTH VOICE currently has chapters at the following institutions:

• The Detroit Institute of Technology at Cody High School
• Medicine and Community Health at Cody High School 
• Phoenix Multicultural Academy
• Cesar Chavez Academy High School 
• Southwestern High School
• Alternatives for Girls
• Universal Academy

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.