OUR BACKGROUND

St. Paul Youth Services

SPYS was established nearly 50 years ago by the City of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Police Department, as an innovative approach to concerns about increased interactions of Black and indigenous youth and youth of color with the juvenile justice system. Programs focused on early intervention in schools through SPYS’ Behavior Intervention Program (BIP) and in the community with SPYS’ Pre-Charge Diversion program, which provided an alternative to juvenile detention. While these programs offer young people the opportunity to be accountable for their mistakes and be restored to their communities and families, they did not address systemic inequities that create conditions perpetuating these realities.

Beginning in 2016, we began “Rewriting the Rules® of Youth Engagement”, creating the conditions for Black youth to be their full selves, amplify their power and brilliance, and drive systemic change. This resulted in a new SPYS program in 2017 called YouthPower Leadership Institute (YouthPowerMN), which expanded SPYS’ expertise to youth leadership, youth social entrepreneurship, and youth activism, following the motto of Kids Changing Systems vs. Systems Changing Kids®. In 2020 we launched YouthPoweredMediaMN®, a digital advocacy and storytelling program. We work to create systemic change for youth through in-school and in-community services and through advocacy that focuses on addressing the underlying barriers to equity. Our programs allow youth to be accountable for their actions, but with a safety net, second chances, and by developing the skills to make choices that allow them to pursue their dreams.