Students from across the United States speak out in support of youth violence prevention during a four-day summit in Washington, D.C., sponsored by World Vision's U.S. programs team.

July 2008

As youth violence plagues communities across the United States, dozens of young people who live in the midst of the violence this month urged their congressional leaders to address the issues that impact youth in some of the nation's most distressed communities.

The Youth Empowerment Project

As Jonathan Billips, a 17-year-old from Mississippi, headed to the U.S. Capitol last week to meet with his congressional representative, he had one wish: "I hope we can say something that just sticks in their head," he said.

Billips is one of 70 young people from at-risk communities across the nation who gathered in Washington, D.C., from July 12-15 to discuss their solutions to youth-related poverty with their congressional legislators. The enthusiastic participants embraced the civic engagement opportunity as delegates of World Vision's second annual Youth Empowerment Summit.

This four-day event was the culmination of World Vision's Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) — a 20-week program that trains youth to become positive influences in their communities by engaging in leadership development activities, community service, and civic involvement. Teens from New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Seattle, Tacoma, Wash., Mississippi, Southwest Georgia, and West Virginia participated in the summit.

Many of the Youth Empowerment Project participants have emerged from very difficult and often tragic circumstances, facing daily challenges at home, at school, and on the streets, where they struggle to stay safe and succeed.

In the first days of the summit, the delegates gathered at George Washington University to share their ideas to improve their communities and take part in training opportunities, including workshops and lectures. On day four, the delegates met on Capitol Hill with their respective congressional representatives and staff and presented policy recommendations.

Billips, the delegate for Picayune, Miss., said the program taught them to promote positive change that benefits their communities. "A lot of times, we want to make a change, but we don't have any idea how," explained Billips.

Delegates call for youth violence prevention measures

Many of the student delegates came from communities severely impacted by violence; some have lost friends and family to senseless acts of brutality. For them, youth violence — often gang-related — is very personal.

One of the issues the teens advocated for is passage of H.R. 3846, the Youth Prison Reduction through Opportunities, Mentoring, Intervention, Support, and Education, or "Youth PROMISE" Act.

Under the proposal, communities facing the greatest youth gang and crime challenges will form a local council. The council will develop a plan for implementing prevention and intervention strategies, which will focus on young people at risk of becoming involved with gangs and will press the criminal justice system to redirect the youth toward productive and law-abiding alternatives.

"Gang violence is a symptom of despair, frustration, and a lack of opportunities," said Michael Mata, World Vision's youth violence expert. "We cannot simply arrest away the problem. We must create an environment that believes in youth and offers options and hope for them. Only then can we stem the tide of violence."

Youth making a difference

On the last day of the summit, when the delegations fanned out across the Hill to meet with their respective legislators, the Chicago delegation met with John Marshall, a legislative aide for Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill. Delegate Jillian Eloby shared about the deaths of people she knew in her community. "It hurts my heart," she said.

The students presented their policy recommendations to Marshall. When they finished, he talked about a bill that he has been working on for Rep. Rush, the CAN DO Act — a youth violence prevention bill that promotes increased job opportunities for youth, better after-school opportunities, and tighter gun laws. "A lot of your policy recommendations are going to be in our bill," he said. "These are excellent policy recommendations."

Members of the other teams experienced similar positive encounters with congressional staff and legislators. Many mentioned being impressed that their representatives and senators would take the time to talk to them. "Congressmen are people, too," said Jonathan Amosa of the Seattle delegation, who added that he found it was easy to have a conversation with his legislators.

When the Seattle team met with Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., they offered policy recommendations to help combat growing youth violence in the Seattle area. The recommendations, drafted by the students, included funding community centers for youth activities, marketing campaigns to promote these activities, and creating a local youth council. They also expressed their support for the "Youth PROMISE" Act. One day after the delegation’s meeting with the congressman, McDermott signed on as a cosponsor of the legislation.

Such is the spirit of civic engagement and youth empowerment. "From beginning to end [of the day], it just seemed like God was on our side," said Amosa. "He's doing something."