St. Paul Youth Services' YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute, SPYS’ youth-led organizing hub.
SPYS’ YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute offers an organizing hub where Black youth are compensated for their intellectual capital, lived experiences, and contributions to improve our communities.
Youth can gather, reflect, express themselves, build skills, organize, and advocate for serious change on issues that affect their lives.
YouthPowerMN℠ leaders are recruited based on their strengths, passion for community solutions & change, demonstrated commitment to building a safeR, supportive, positive community, and their availability to meet YouthPowerMN℠ curriculum requirements.
YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute requires a high level of engagement from youth and their parents/guardians.
OUR MOTTO: Kids Changing Systems vs. Systems Changing Kids®
SPYS’ YouthPowerMN℠ have achieved remarkable goals.
YouthPowerMN℠ Code of Conduct is created, in partnership with youth, to create a strong, safer, supportive community and achieve the program goals. The Code of Conduct is updated, edited, and/or changed annually with our youth.
Either party (SPYS, youth, and/or their parents/guardians) can cease the engagement agreement at any time.
Meeting the expectation of the YouthPowerMN℠ Code of Conduct is NON-NEGOTIABLE.
SPYS is “Rewriting the Rules® of Youth Engagement" by creating the conditions for Black youth to be their full selves, amplify their power and brilliance, and drive systemic change.
