Members of YWAT Lead A Rally against Street Harassment (Chicago)

Reports of youth apathy and lack of engagement are greatly exaggerated.  For the past seven year,  I have been the primary adult ally for a group of extraordinary young women of color who call themselves the “Young Women’s Action Team (YWAT).”

We launched YWAT in 2003 and since that time the young women have used youth-led participatory action research as the basis for launching several organizing campaigns.  YWAT’s work focuses on challenging violence against girls and young women.

Their latest campaign is called “Suspension Stories.” Through the Suspension Stories project, YWAT is collecting stories of young people who have been been negatively impacted by harsh disciplinary policies like zero tolerance.  I share this here because as you all know I have a great interest in issues related to the School to Prison Pipeline.  I am currently working with YWAT members on this project and I can’t wait to share the final outcome of that collaboration with all of you next year.

After nearly a year of conversations and reflection, YWAT has decided that it will end its work as an organization next year after they complete their work on the  Suspension Stories project.   I felt that it was important for me to take a moment to tell each and every young woman who has been part of YWAT how proud I am of who they are and what they have accomplished.

YWAT will have existed as a youth-led social change project for 8 years when it shuts down in July 2011.  Members past and present continue to be activists in their communities.  That is what I believe the gift of YWAT was and is.  It has instilled a sense of life-long activism and organizing in young women’s lives. Already YWAT members are thinking about ways to support other young women with new projects and new organizing initiatives.  These projects will take different names but will have been born out of the legacy of YWAT.  I am so proud to be associated with such an amazing and inspirational group of people.  The past seven years have been some of the best times that I have had.

For those who are interested in learning more about the history of YWAT’s work and the young women’s many accomplishments, you can visit their new website here.

I have been admonished to mention that the website is a work in progress and will serve as an archive for all of YWAT’s work.  It will not be completed until next year but should provide a good sense of what the group and its members are all about.

P.S. Catch youth activists from YWAT, Blocks Together, the Chicago Freedom School, Gender Just, KRCC and MAGIC on Saturday October 16th from 9:30 to 2 p.m. for an event called YOUTH VOICES CHALLENGE THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE. This morning panel followed by lunch and roundtable discussions will take place at Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Ave.

The youth activists will share information about their campaigns to dismantle the school to prison pipeline. This event is part of the National Week of Action on School Pushout organized by the Dignity in Schools Campaign.

Interested people can register for the Youth Voices event HERE.