Your update on news, developments and opportunities for action from OYU
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Update on the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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We hope that you are well, staying safe, avoiding groups and contact with people who may have been exposed, and doing all that you can to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 (Corona Virus). The rapid spread of the virus has created isolation, fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and so many other feelings for young people and adults across the globe. Now more than ever, we must remain united and continue to love, support, and care for one another.
There has been a lot of movement on the federal level around this pandemic. Bills are being passed and leaders are stepping up in various ways. Some of it can be confusing, but we want to make sure that you all have the information you need to stay up to date on what’s happening at the federal level, what policies are being passed, and how it impacts all of our communities. Check out the resources below to get caught up to speed on what has been passed, how it impacts young people and low-income communities, and recommendations for future legislation
Federal Policy Updates
In addition, here are a few resources to help you stay safe and be as productive as possible, given the limitations that vary across the different states
.
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Rock the Vote & National Census Day!
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Today, April 1, is Census Day, the official day marking the effort to count everyone in the country. If someone lives in your household as of April 1* – they count!
The
2020 Census
affects funding for resources and services in our communities, including schools, roads, hospitals, firefighters, and job training and development programs. It determines the number of Congresspersons from your state and representation at all levels of government. You have the power to make a difference – right now, from your house – by going online, calling the Census Bureau, or filling out your paper form once it comes in the mail.
This Census Day, learn more about the Census and help us spread the word!
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Leadership Transition at OYUnited
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OYUnited is happy to share the news with you of our recent leadership transition at OYUnited. As of March 9, 2020, Lashon Amado has begun to serve as the Interim Project Director for OYUnited. I agreed to step into the role as Interim Project Director for OYUnited, at the recommendation of Dorothy Stoneman and with the support of the National Council of Young Leaders, the Community Action Teams, the Community Leaders, our partners, and funders.
Dorothy Stoneman, the previous Project Director, will now serve as the Assistant to the Director. She will be supporting me and still be lending all her amazing wisdom and skills to all of us by supporting fundraising, reporting, and all the partnerships and initiatives that she is already deeply involved in, like the Community Leaders, Team Leaders, voter mobilization, the Reconnecting Youth Campaign, and a few others. For Elvera Perry and Kimberly Pham, their roles will remain the same. Philan Tree was serving as the training project coordinator during 2019 and through March of 2020, but that was a temporary position so we now again have just four staff.
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Before serving as Project Director, I served as the Deputy Director and National Coordinator. In those roles, I helped launch, support, and sustain all 19 CATS. Although I am taking on additional responsibilities in this new role, my plan is to still work closely with the Community Action Teams. In fact, my work with the CATs is the best part of his job and a constant reminder of why this work is important.
For clarity, we thought it would also be helpful to let you know that I agreed to serve as Interim Project Director, rather than as the permanent Director for two reasons. One, I believe there should be an open process as it relates to hiring for any permanent staff position within OYU, including the Director position. Second, I want to make sure that his new role does not conflict with the work that I am leading in Cabo Verde, a program called
Mas Um Chance
, which is also very important to me.
Please join us in celebrating this exciting transition!
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National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service Releases its Recommendations and Introduces Legislation to Expand Service Opportunities
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Last May, Eleven members of OYUnited’s National Council and local leaders met with two commissioners of the National Commission for Military, National, and Public Service, Alan Khazei and Steve Barton, to present OYUnited’s recommendations on how to expand and improve national service for opportunity youth, and how to create innovative community-based initiatives within national service.
After reading the Commission’s interim report, the National Council plus a number of OYUnited Community Leaders had developed our own recommendations to make sure opportunity youth and low income adults, as well as rural and tribal communities, receive equitable access to service opportunities. Expanding national service for all opportunity youth has been central to our policy goals since the Council’s beginning in 2012. In addition, a strong desire to create locally-driven community improvement projects of their own design has surfaced since 2015 as a priority for OYUnited’s local Community Action Teams.
The Recommendations from OYUnited were extremely well received and the Commissioners are making plans for an ongoing partnership with us. Many of our recommendations are reflected in the final report and the legislative agenda produced by the Commission.
Click here
to find the OYUnited Recommendations on the website of the National Commission.
Click here
to find the Commission’s final report and recommendations to Congress.
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Check out this podcast
from OYUnited National Council Member, Shanice Turner. The topic of the discussion is “When Great Minds Come Together Internationally,” and includes an extraordinary young leader from Kenya, Alfred Sigo. Listen in as they discuss 2020, what they’ve accomplished and where they’re headed.
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Chicago CAT Voter Mobilization Update
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On March 5th, the young leaders of the Chicago Community Action Team chartered buses to transport 125 young voters to participate in early voting. Ninety percent of the young adults transported for early voting were first-time voters between the ages of 18 and 20 years old. The young leaders also worked to obtain 500 pledge-to-vote cards; created, disseminated and collected data from surveys; and obtained 200 new registrations.
Their efforts are part of a larger OYUnited Voter Mobilization Initiative that the Chicago CAT is committed to, along with ten additional CATs across the country. This major initiative is funded by the Carolina Fund through Tides Center in collaboration with OYUnited. The Chicago CAT’s plan also includes engaging their members in weekly workshops that enhance community voter literacy, nonpartisan candidate education, community town hall forums, and their Voter-Palooza Get Out To Vote (GOTV) events that now will mostly have to be virtual events!
Stay tuned for more Voter Mobilization updates from the Chicago CAT and others.
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Cleveland Community Action Team
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We are happy to announce that MyCom has agreed to serve as the anchor organization for the OYUnited Cleveland Community Action Team (CAT)! Please
check out their website
to learn more about their organization.
WELCOME TO THE MOVEMENT, CLEVELAND!
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Fellowship & Job Opportunities
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The SMYAL LGBTQ Youth Leadership Awards provides financial support (up to $5,000) to offset the costs of continuing one’s education, whether at a technical or trade school, or a two or four-year college or university. Funds may be used for everything from tuition to housing, room, and board, or materials required for your program. The award is open to youth who have either graduated from high school or will by spring 2020, as well as those who have obtained a GED and will start their next educational program by the spring of 2021.
The application is due April 20
th
and you can find a copy of the application
here
. You can also reach out to Rebecca York (
rebecca.york@smyal.org
) for more information.
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Earth Island Institute established The Brower Youth Award for Environmental Leadership in 2000 to honor renowned environmental advocate David Brower, who was quoted as saying “I love to see what young people can do, before someone old tells them it’s impossible.” It is with this spirit that they recognize the outstanding leadership efforts of young people who are working for the protection of our shared planet.
Brower Youth Awards will provide six recipients a $3,000 cash prize, a professionally produced short film about their work from an Emmy award winning film crew, and flight and lodging accommodations for a week-long trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, once the virus quarantine period is over. During their stay in California, the recipients will participate in a coaching, visioning, leadership activities, speaking and media engagements.
Youth environmental change leaders should be between the ages of 13 to 22 (as of May 1, 2020) living in North America (including Mexico, Canada, some Caribbean Islands) and US “Territories”
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The application deadline for submission is
Friday, May 1, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
Click here
to access the
application and learn more.
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Lashon Amado
Project Director of Opportunity Youth United
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