I recently had the opportunity to co-facilitate a daylong institute on youth-led activism at Creating Change 2014 in Houston. In preparation for the conference, I created a list of the key lessons I’ve learned as an LGBTQ youth organizer the past few years. Instead of sharing a wordy editorial, I thought this format would be more fun. Enjoy!
| 1. Youth-led dreams come true because of hard work, integrity, and resilience |
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| Youth justice is realized through an unyielding commitment to the dignity of all. The power to secure social change resides in authentic community leadership and the selfless dedication of individuals toward the power of love. |
| 2. There are no fairy godmothers in youth-led activism |
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| No youth activists are given power outright – it must be created and sustained. Sometimes, an individual youth leader can be tokenized and invited to ‘the ball.’ However, getting a free ticket to the local LGBT community banquet for one night is not shifting a community power structure. You’ll still be a house-servant again at midnight. So, empowered as your own blue fairy, you can become more than the intern who stuffs envelopes or smiles for a poster. |
| 3. The ‘movement’ does not invest in youth-led activism; learn how to stretch a dollar |
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| The institutional barriers blocking youth-led work are everywhere. It should not be this way, but it is. Social justice movements despise financial investments in youth-led work because funders often stereotype all young leaders as irresponsible or unprepared. So be ready to scrape by on whatever resources you can piece together. In 2012, FIERCE in New York found that youth self-fund over 80% of youth-led activism. |
| 4. You will often be alone in believing in the power of youth |
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| You will get regular side-eye from members of student groups, youth communities and adult organizations alike. But keep on. You are not strange for thinking you can be an equal and valued member of your community. |
| 5. The land of youth-led justice actually exists, despite those who say otherwise |
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| Even though it may have been buried underground for a few thousand years, it’s there. #hope |
| 6. Youth leaders can be taught any task |
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| but the spark of unyielding sacrifice toward justice can only be self-made |
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| You can teach a youth leader any task or professional standard such as how to write an email or speak in public. Yet, it is the commitment to unconditional sacrifices toward justice and a selfless dedication to the team that define an authentic leader. And to sustain effective work, you need a team of authentic leaders in it for the long haul. But only the leaders on their own can get themselves into that mindset. |
| 7. The best moments of youth activism are when youth-led work clicks |
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| The best reward for doing this work, besides getting it done, is when you see the gleam in another young leader’s eyes when they ‘get it’ – when they understand their power. It can take months, sometimes over a year. Some will never know. But when you see the click, it’s beautiful. |
| 8. A fierce value and defense of youth dignity allows our full empowerment |
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| Youth-led dignity allows us to believe in our full empowerment – whether in our own little corner or with a royal scepter in our hands. True empowerment is our complete and total autonomy. |
| 9. Never make yourself a person who can be bought or sold |
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| Plenty of youth go to the highest bidder. Sometimes adults offer rising youth leaders “key opportunities” which are rather tools by which they can later use to leverage and influence them. Don’t let yourself be bought by others. If you make yourself your own boss, you can secure your success independently and be free of manipulative relationships. |
| 10. Defend your fellow youth at whatever costs |
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| What happens to one of us, happens to us all. And next time, they will have your back. |
| 11. One of our greatest rebellions as youth is standing against the institutionalization of social justice |
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| The revolution will not come to us by any non-profit organization – but by our own voice and action. Youth-led organizations have long recognized the importance of resisting the formation of corporate, non-profit industrial complex-based communities. It is critical to preserve this fierce sense of organizational culture as best you can. Our movement should be sowed in the truth of our communities, and not rooted in appealing to wealthy donors. |
| 12. Once you find your groove in youth-led activism, you will have aged |
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| You can get easily get swept into the colors of the wind. And two, three years later…you’re supposed to age up from being youth? Ugh. There is no snooze button on this on, unfortunately. So dance as fast as you can. And remember, this is a good thing to keep new energy constantly coming into your youth community’s leadership. |
| 13. Always take the higher road |
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| Microagressions because of age are regular occurrences. Either from adults who think you know nothing, and treat you like icky creatures from the deep, or other youth who think you are insane and pretentious. It’s not worth the time or resources to respond to these haters. Even though you certainly know they could learn a lesson or two, it is best to leave them be and focus on the work ahead. |
| 14. Work hard, to work harder |
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| Rest? Early wake-ups for one-on-one, group, or community meetings are very regular for youth organizers. You have to work hard, always be sharp, and be in communication 24/7 – all the while never comprising who you are or your fighting spirit. For some, self-care is a vacation every few months. For others, youth activism is their self-care. |
| 15. Your fellow youth-led activists will become your best friends for life |
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And we are also a family Disney / via Tumblr |
| Always be there for each other, through thick and thin. Especially older youth reaching out to younger youth to make sure they know they are loved and cared for. |
| 16. Because our struggle is real being queer youth |
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| Through all the social justice advocacy, we are still growing up as queer people in America. Work with this, rather against it. It is much worse to pretend it’s not a thing. Build-in supporting those in the coming out process and affirm each other in living true into all you do. |
| 17. Youth can be evil to other youth |
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| A young person once naively said to those in a group meeting, “well, youth don’t have politics with each other!” Lol. Some youth will knowingly oppress other young leaders in order to advance themselves in adult circles. This is some of the cruelest work. Best to avoid them. They are very few in number, but these are the sharks who want to take your heart. In order to crush grassroots youth empowerment efforts, adult organizations can hire interns to undermine youth-led work. (#mercenaries4resumes) And along the lines of youth antagonizing each other – some youth will contrive conflict where there is none. Instead of owning up to responsibility in the movement they signed up to help lead, it can be easier to incorrectly judge their counterpart leaders and youth activists as “others who are dangerous” or “who just don’t get them,” and thereby an ‘enemy’ as well. |
| 18. And some youth don’t know how to check their privilege |
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| Sure, cast your privilege and cultural appropriation all over town! |
| 19. The stages of accepting youth leaders being apathetic to social justice |
| When a GSA President mentions that they could care less about social justice and mainly want to hook up with the next catch-of-the-day, blood will boil even in the most seasoned youth organizers. There are generally five stages to accepting youth apathy. The lesson here is that some youth are inconsolable, but never give up – always try to find other ways in. Sometimes that is waiting for them to develop more in their leadership. Many young leaders can be socialized to be wholly disempowered, although it’s not generally articulated that way. Activating them, and having them understand their potential, can be a difficult process that requires patience. Yet, marching in with a savior-complex is highly problematic too. There is a battle to be waged against years of being told by adults (and themselves) that they are incapable of being equal and respected partners at the community table. It may take a long time to get through the dragon’s keep of their internalized adultism, and for some it will never happen, but it can be conquered. Mostly though, it makes for very entertaining stories. |
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| First, the Mary Poppins eye roll. You are innocently stunned at their immediate rejection to your suggestion of community engagement. |
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| Quickly, you will exclaim how unforgivably small-minded and uncivilized they must be. |
| However, you are an incredibly patient and compassionate person. You ask them for reasons why they think they are unable to ‘divert attention or resources’ to social justice work that happens off-campus. |
| In horror, you take a breath. |
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| Then you explain, in no uncertain terms, that they are in a leadership position and responsible to their community to do something more than a bake sale or drag show. |
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| But your final plea is to no avail. A cost-benefit analysis will lead you to shush them away from your outreach agenda – but of course open if they want to talk or return. The work to be done is more important than extending all your resources to help empower others who are not in a mindset to do so. |
| 20. Youth who need constant praise or hand-holding will not last long |
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| You stuffed twenty envelopes? Yay for you! Now, it’s totally time to twirl in celebration. Thanks for not helping the rest of us write the darn letter, which took longer because we thought you were coming to the work party. We have all the golf claps for you. Youth who need constant praise to keep their minimal involvement will drain you. Youth-led work is not for people who need applause. Expect to be seldom thanked, never paid, and continue the fight from the bottom of the totem pole. |
| 21. In general, when the world does not expect you to do anything valuable as a young person, you’re shoved into invisibility |
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| 22. Telling-off the big bad wolf about his adultism is usually a bad idea |
| Stopping in the forest to tell-off the wolf about his adultism can have you ending up as his dinner. It’s usually a bad idea. So, guard your basket, filled with youth empowerment, for dear life and sprint through the forest. |
| 23. You’ll likely never know why some adults want to knock youth down |
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| You may never know the reason why some adults just don’t like working with youth as equal partners. Maybe they are jealous of the swanky red shoes you have on? Just beware of the flying monkeys. |
| 24. Youth are not pawns of adults because we choose our destiny |
| Our lives are not the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of what youth are supposed to be. Youth-led activists are not the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite the sincerest efforts of some adults, has been unable to be eliminated. While it remains a burden assiduously avoided, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led us, inexorably, to action. The answer is: our choice. |
| 25. Don’t get bitter against all adults |
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| Not all adults are trying to manipulate you to speak for youth, harm youth communities, or disrespect you intentionally. If you don’t perceive adults to be the enemy, they don’t become an enemy. It’s a much calmer approach too. Lesson: think happy thoughts! |
| 26. If not all youth are at the table, then the table is not worth using |
| Isolated and divided, our youth fiefdoms (college groups, youth groups, youth networks, etc.) will be easily taken over. Creating an accessible space grown from the most marginalized parts of the youth community will root yourself in the struggle and not above it. Selfless service, and keeping your heart close to the ground, will allow you to build the inclusive, affirming, and productive bonds you wish to build. As one roundtable, there is nothing that can defeat us and no dragon we cannot slay. |
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| 28. Meet youth where they are at |
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| Always do meetings in person. Talk on the phone over email. Connect with them where they are at in their development – not where they should be, or where you want them to be. |
| 29. Be aware of your physical presence |
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| When meeting new students or youth, keep your physical presence in mind. |
| 30. Remember, you are in a long legacy of youth-led activism |
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| Do justice to the sacrifices of youth before you, and pave the way for the next generation in every move you make. |
| 31. Know the history of your community |
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| Read everything you can on the youth activist histories in the Civil Rights and suffrage movements. Their story is your story. |
| 32. Get used to youth saying no when you ask them to step-up into leadership, for all the wrong reasons |
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| Students and youth will say no 95% of the time not only to getting involved in youth-led activism, but also in leading it. It is generally not a natural paradigm for youth to understand or embrace. Similar to any group doing marginalized constituency-led work. It is much easier to say no, then yes. Yes is a commitment. Yes is time. Yes is responsibility. Even though those are the precise ingredients for community change, personal responsibility is rarer than gold. The ‘no people’ are followers and important, but not always reliable, and will not lead an effort forward independently. And certainly need hand-holding. Defeatism: the acceptance of failure without action or struggle. |
| 33. So, hold out for the rare yes |
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| Build a community of the youth who always say yes, and anything will be possible. |
| 34. You must have a process of how to identify the successors to established youth activists |
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| There is no avoiding the fact that youth, as a constituency, have quick leadership turnarounds, of usually of 2-4 years. Without a strong leadership pipeline, your community will wither and shrivel away. #mortality |
| 35. Never give up |
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| Youth combating social injustice can be met with a community torn apart, apathetic youth, or pervasive adultism. The ever multiplying barriers can seem to be insurmountable. But it is absolutely possible to rise up and overcome these challenges to impact change. |
| 36. Diving into youth-led activism can be petrifying |
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| Especially when there is no safety net below, and you have no idea how long it will take to get to your goal. |
| 37. But when you’re with your team, nothing can take you down |
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| And through the toughest of battles, you know you’ll succeed. A day may come when the courage of youth fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day! This day we fight! |
| 38. Why do we keep fighting? Because youth can win! |
| You’ll often need to ask: Why do we do it? Why get up? Why keep fighting? Do we believe we are fighting for something? For more than our survival? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Could it be for love? No, not Illusions. Not vagaries of perception. We can win. It’s not pointless to keep fighting. We persist because we choose to. |
| 39. Yes, down the Rabbit Hole we go |
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| You finally earn the trust of a youth leader and make the ask to them: take on the necessary leadership for the cause to move forward, or not. Some will say ‘no,’ choosing to go home and believe whatever they want. However, there will be the rare few youth who are ready to say: ‘I’m ready to see how far the rabbit hole goes.’ This is the only way into wonderland. And the heart of why we do this work. |
| 40. Always remember: justice and love are what we are fighting for |
 PSEC 2011 |