Youthprise

Attention: Summer Programs Serving School-Age Children and Youth! Applications are now open for Youthprise’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)! SFSP provides free, nutritious meals to children in low-income areas during the summer months—ensuring they stay healthy and supported while school is out. Interested in becoming a meal site? Apply today: https://lnkd.in/gHY3p9HR #ChildNutrition #SFSP #SummerMeals #EndHunger #NutritionAwarenessMonth

A young prodigy in the medical field, Tony Hansberry II gained national recognition at the age of 14 when he developed a more efficient method for stitching patients after hysterectomy procedures. His innovation helped reduce surgical time and the risk of complications. Though still a high school student, his technique had a significant impact. Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the U.S., making it one of the most common surgical procedures for women. Tony’s early success highlighted the potential of students in STEM fields and demonstrated how young minds create lasting change in the world. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #YoungVoices #TonyHansberryII #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership

Diane Nash was active in the Civil Rights Movement from her time as a student at Fisk University. At age 21, she co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and helped organize the Nashville sit-ins—the first successful civil rights campaign to integrate lunch counters. She also played a crucial role in the Freedom Rides, voting rights activism, and the desegregation of schools. From a young age, Diane understood that her actions would benefit future generations. Later in life, while addressing students at Yale University, she urged young people to take action for themselves, emphasizing that the only way for the country to endure difficult times and preserve freedom is for individuals to take the future into their own hands. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #YoungVoices #Diane Nash #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership

Our very own Fayise Abrahim, Director of Strategic Initiatives, is joining the board of the Minnesota Council on Foundations! Her leadership and commitment to equity-driven philanthropy will be an incredible asset in shaping the future of our sector. Join us in celebrating this milestone! ????

Robert Smalls was a man of extraordinary courage and vision. Enslaved in South Carolina, he saw an opportunity for freedom and took it—risking everything to commandeer a Confederate ship, The Planter, and sail his family and crew to safety. His daring escape through enemy waters delivered the vessel to the Union Army, making him a Civil War hero at just 23 years old. But Smalls’ impact didn’t end there. He went on to serve in the U.S. Congress, fighting for voting rights, public education, and opportunities for Black Americans. His life is a testament to what’s possible when boldness meets a deep commitment to community. When young people take action, they don’t just change their own futures—they change history. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #YoungVoices #RobertSmalls #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership

We know that collaboration drives change. That's why Youthprise is thrilled to partner locally with Every Hour Counts for their 2025 National Conference. This May, join us in Minneapolis as leaders, educators, funders, and young people come together to shape a future where all youth have access to high-quality learning opportunities. At Better Together: Lighting the Path Forward, we’ll exchange ideas, tackle challenges, and spark innovation to strengthen afterschool and summer learning systems nationwide. If you believe in the power of community-driven solutions, this is the place to be. We invite you to the Twin Cities to join us in building a more equitable future—together. #youthvoice #conference #afterschool #summerlearning #OST ?? May 14-16, 2025 ?? Register today: https://bit.ly/4k3pLwr

At just 21 years old, Gil Scott-Heron used his talent as a poet and musician to challenge the status quo and fight for racial justice. His iconic 1970 song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” became an anthem for a generation, urging young people to engage in real action rather than passively watching the world change through media. Gil’s bold lyrics combined elements of jazz, blues, and spoken word to address social issues like racial inequality, poverty, and the Vietnam War, making him a key figure in the cultural movements of the 1960s and 70s. His activism wasn’t just in his music—he became a symbol of the power of youth to drive change. His message still resonates today, reminding us that true revolutions aren’t televised, they are lived, fought for, and felt in the hearts of those pushing for a better world. Gil’s music continues to inspire young voices advocating for social justice, showing that even at a young age, the right words and actions can create lasting change. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #YoungVoices #GilScottHeron #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership

Exciting changes ahead! Youthprise is relocating, effective February 24, 2025. While our mailing address remains the same, our team will primarily work remotely. We’ll have a drop-in workspace at EquaSpace to support internal collaborations, however, if you need to meet with a staff member in person, just coordinate directly with them for the location. We’re excited about this transition and the opportunities it brings to keep innovating and making an impact while we look forward to establishing our permanent home soon!

When she was just 8 years old, Amariyanna “Mari” Copeny wrote a letter to President Obama about the Flint water crisis, which exposed more than 100,000 residents—most of them Black—to unsafe levels of lead in their drinking water. Her letter resulted in a visit by the president himself and $100 million in relief for the city of Flint. Now 16, she continues to tackle the water crisis, challenge environmental racism, and give back to her community and beyond. To date, Mari has raised over $700K to produce and distribute water filters to those facing toxic drinking water around the country. She has also distributed over 1 million bottles of water. Additionally, she is the youngest Women’s March youth ambassador and serves as a youth ambassador for the Climate March and Equality for Her. As a testament to the power of youth voice, the effects of Mari’s activism reach far and wide—and will continue to shape the future. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #YoungVoices #MariCopeny #YouthVoice #YouthLeadership

We're honored to work alongside partners like Second Harvest Heartland to combat hunger and food insecurity in Minnesota. With 1 in 5 households struggling to afford food, this work is more critical than ever. Thank you for convening the Make Hunger History Summit and bringing leaders together to spark solutions. Special shoutout to our president, Marcus Pope, for sharing his insights as a panelist! #MakeHungerHistory #EndHunger #FoodInsecurity #ChildHunger