Tuesday Worldyouth Media Workshops

What is the Youth Leadership Support Network?

Supporting Youth Activism Around the Block and Around the World

Youth Leadership Support Network is a violence-prevention, arts, media, education and training network based in Washington, DC. Founded in the fall of 1998, the Youth Leadership Support Network (www.worldyouth.org) provides a youth-organizing, media, networking and cultural work-in-progress in the greater Washington, DC area, and resources for youth activism in the nation’s capital. Ninety-six percent of District youth are people of color with an overall youth poverty rate of almost 32 percent. The DC metro region includes one of the most diverse populations in the world and tremendous wealth disparities. YLSN provides hope and opportunity for youth in a microcosm of diverse America.

"Your words and actions show a genuine commitment to bettering the minds and conditions of those around you. The work you do in your communities has a lasting effect, from the SHINE program to promote fairness and respect to your intergenerational Youth Activism Summits to share with each other your ideas for today and your hopes for the future."

-- Sen. John Kerry, February 2003 statement of support for the
Second Intergenerational Youth Activism Summit

Since incorporating in the fall of 1998, YLSN has worked with students at 66 local K-12 schools, 15 local universities, 86 local groups, 42 national groups, 36 international groups, and hundreds of performing artists, union members, movement veterans and youth from all 50 states. We are teens, college students, parents, educators, union members, performing artists, movement veterans, youth workers, media producers and community organizers. For five years YLSN has operated as an all-volunteer organization. Ninety percent of our $100,000 annual operating budget has come from in-kind donations of time and services. It is a testament to community involvement and dedication that we accomplish so much.

The unique combination of inter-related programs provide a wide-range of opportunities for youth of all ages and backgrounds to discover and hone talents, interests and skills while having a great time doing it. Hip hop dance, open-mics, street theater and neighborhood parades embrace the arts as community organizing tools while media, oral history, fundraising and investigative research teach skills backed by volunteer mentors. Our five program areas are: Worldyouth Media: Why watch the news when you can be the news, Promote the Peace music and arts, DC Youth Activism Archives, Youth2Youth Networking and SHINE – Stop Hate, Inspire Neighborhly Engagement to counter hate organizing.

Most importantly, YLSN provides space and opportunities for youth to try out new ideas, meet new friends and mentors, shape history and forge partnerships among youth groups around the block and around the world. Firmly rooted in more than 20 years of youth organizing in DC neighborhoods and the region via its predecessor, the DC Student Coalition against Apartheid and Racism (DC SCAR 1983 -- 1998), YLSN provides a rare and comprehensive approach to leadership development, networking and civic engagement.