BRAVE Young Leaders (BYL) is a division of BRAVE Communities that connects young people, ages 14-24, to be the change they wish to see in this world.  BYLs will work together to cultivate BRAVE spaces for diverse young people to come together and Build Relationships Awareness Voices and Engagement so we can co-create more just and equitable communities. 

What is the BRAVE Young Leaders Program?

Since 2020, BRAVE Communities’ youth empowerment programs were split into a few different initiatives: the Ambassadors, the BRAVEMakers, and cohorts of BRAVE Interns. Now, in the spirit of collaboration, we’re combining those programs to form the BRAVE Young Leaders, and aiming to reimagine the organization with a more focused, youth-led vision and structure. The BRAVE Young Leaders Program is not only a great place to gain community service hours and/or internship credit (optional and with institution approval), but moreso, a  social outlet for young people, ages 14-24 years old, to connect around personal, cultural, and racial consciousness, while building leadership, communication,  teambuilding, and community engagement skills. 

• First, we’ve developed the BRAVE Social Impact Club model. These BRAVE Clubs will essentially be mini BRAVE organizations that you all can start in your own high schools, colleges/universities and communities! And yes… that means you’ll find BRAVE scattered all across the U.S. If it sounds daunting, don’t worry! This past summer a steering committee of your peers collaborated to write guidelines and instructions on how to operate these clubs, which we will further explain at the 2 virtual informational sessions  this August 16th, and/or August 21st at 6:30 PM (CT)! You only have to come to one, but are welcome to join both!
• The Young Leaders will use a 4-prong collaborative committee structure that gives more hands-on opportunities for young people to be involved in community building and advocacy:

• Initially, our youth empowerment programs were designed for young women-identifying and nonbinary. Now, we’re inviting men and queer gender identities to join and be allies. 
• In addition to promoting the pillars of racial justice and gender equality, BRAVE is also addressing environmental justice/climate change and mental health care.
• Opportunities to connect with peers, experienced professionals, and community champions, and more!
• Opportunities for academic school credit (internship) and community service/volunteer hours.
  
  

Why?

Most of us understand there are clear, harmful social, political and economic inequalities plaguing our society. With the rise of racial injustice and erasure of diverse history, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, the impending threat of climate change, etc., those most marginalized, including young people, should have the opportunity to be at the forefront of these conversations that ultimately impact our futures. 

At its core, we want the BYL Program to be a BRAVE community space for us to express our concerns, anger, fear, and sadness; as well as our desire for love, hope, freedom, and justice for ALL.

Our BRAVE question: how can we channel these emotions into concrete actions to bring change? That’s what this program is about. Please join us if you’re wanting to be the change in your own life and in our communities! 🙂

Who Are BYLs?
Want to be BRAVE and be an influence for positive change? Here are some terms to be a BYL:

• Be 14 to 24 years old, ALL racial, ethnic, gender and nonbinary identities 
• Have access to internet and device to participate in Zoom meetings 
• Self-motivated, passionate, and dedicated individual who wants to be ‘BRAVE’ and bring positive change in your community. 
• Have an interest in building a deeper understanding of how racial identity is tied to social justice. 
• Have a desire to develop leadership and advocacy skills, while increasing your self-confidence and identity. 
• Be able to commit to at least 2 meetings a month (~2-4 hours/month of meetings)

Read below for a list of the committee descriptions, and then fill out the following form to choose your committee! 

COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

RELATIONSHIPS

This committee creates culture and community internally (across all committees) and externally (volunteers, community, members). They will promote participation amongst the BRAVE Young Leaders, ensuring that collaboration and a positive attitude are the base of all operations. This committee will also prepare and manage the monthly newsletter to their fellow peers.  The committee will also help their peers keep track of significant dates.
Relationship works closely with Engagement to ensure that events and activities are properly organized.

AWARENESS

This committee gathers information and resources for BRAVE  to be knowledgeable and well-versed on the four main social issues that BRAVE works on — racial justice, gender equity, environmental justice, and mental health care. The committee will attract anyone who has a particular interest in these 4 issues, and can inform others in a clear fashion. 

Awareness will work closely with Voices to communicate information and Engagement for any resources to use for community events, projects, and initiatives. 

VOICES

This committee wil manage the BRAVE brand, promote the vision and values of BYL, including our events, activities, & memberships. Members will amplify the work we do on a peer-to-peer connection, and via different media/platforms, especially social media. The committee will innovatively use both traditional and out-of-the-box promotion techniques to reflect the core of BRAVE and its current goals. More specifically, Voices will produce flyers and promotional materials, organize digital social media campaigns, and capture and manage photos/videos of the events.

Voices works closely with Awareness to receive history, facts, and stats for promotional material (ie: content), and Relationship and Engagement to promote events, membership, recruitment, and fundraising initiatives.

ENGAGEMENT

This committee handles the organizational details of BYL community-building initiatives and projects, such as — coordinating venues/location, date, time, materials/supplies, etc. Additionally, the committee will manage and maintain the budget, and work with community partners and guest speakers/performers for outreach and collaboration efforts.
Engagement will work closely with Relationship to coordinate events within our internal group and in the external local community.