Youth Ambassadors Present at National Conference

From left: Jy’nai Geter, Jayde Gathings, and Amaya Bauldwin in Detroit.

On Friday, May 12, three Youth Forward MKE Ambassadors presented at the 2023 Forum National Conference in Detroit alongside speaker David Emmanuelle Castillo of Equitable Systems Consultants. Their workshop session, which dove into the Design Your Future Fellowship and the Youth Voice Ladder, was titled "Building Authentic Partnerships, Creating Space and Shifting Power: Young People in Milwaukee Informing Transformative Change in Education through Equity-Based Project Proposals."

The conference was hosted by The Forum for Youth Investment, whose goal is to provide ideas, services and networks that leaders need to make better, more intentional decisions for young people. The conference theme this year was "Stronger Systems, Stronger Youth," and it was intended to highlight the power of convening to advance youth development, support systems leaders and shape policies. Across three days and more than 50 sessions, participants explored how different communities are approaching youth development and centering the experiences and voices of young people and their families.

Amaya Bauldwin, Jayde Gathings and Jy'Nai Geter, who all participated in the Design Your Future Fellowship in 2021 and now serve as Youth Ambassadors, accompanied David and Milwaukee Succeeds' Community Engagement Manager Sebastián Fuentes. Together, they explored the evidence-based practices that informed the unique youth-centered fellowship and the creation of the equity ladder that ensured that youth voice was heard and valued. Participants also learned about the project proposals that stemmed from the fellowship, the obstacles that have arisen during implementation and the actions Youth Forward MKE has taken to overcome them.