Rockaway Youth Task Force Inc

THE ROCKAWAY YOUTH TASK FORCE IS A MEMBER-LED ORGANIZATION OF YOUTH OF COLOR WITHIN THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA THAT BUILDS POWER TO SECURE, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND RACIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL. WE DEVELOP POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS LEADERS WHO ARE INVESTED IN IMPROVING THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH YOUTH-LED CAMPAIGNS, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, MOVEMENT BUILDING, AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION THROUGH ARTS AND MEDIA.

ROCKAWAY ADVOCATE PROGRAM: OFTEN, THE STORIES OF YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR AND THEIR COMMUNITIES ARE IGNORED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA. AS AN EXTENSION OF OUR ORGANIZING, THE ROCKAWAY ADVOCATE IS A CITIZEN JOURNALISM PROJECT. PARTICIPANTS IN THE ROCKAWAY WRITERS PROGRAM PUBLISH THE ROCKAWAY ADVOCATE WHICH IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN PRINT. IT SERVES AS BOTH A PLATFORM FOR OUR ADVOCACY WORK AS WELL AS A PATHWAY FOR YOUNG WOMEN OF COLOR IN ROCKAWAY TO TAKE BACK THEIR OWN NARRATIVE IN THE MEDIA WHILE GAINING CONCRETE, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS. IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO OFFER MEDIA COMMENTARY ON CURRENT EVENTS WHILE GIVING PARTICIPANTS A PLATFORM TO DISSECT AND SHARE INFORMATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

ROCKAWAY ADVOCACY PROJECT (YOUTH ORGANIZING): RAP PROVIDES YOUTH IN ROCKAWAY WITH A STRUCTURED WAY TO BE CIVICALLY INVOLVED. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES RESOURCES FOR POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS YOUTH TO CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES, ENGAGE THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND BECOME DEDICATED LEADERS AND ORGANIZERS. IN WEEKLY POLITICAL EDUCATIONS, YOUTH PURSUE TARGETED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND LEARN CONCRETE SKILLS LIKE OUTREACH, NETWORKING, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING. THROUGH RAP, ORGANIZERS CREATE AND LEAD CAMPAIGNS TO FIGHT FOR THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY REPRESENT.

URBAN FARMING PROGRAM (ROCKAWAY ROOTS): THE ROCKAWAY PENINSULA IS A FEDERALLY LABELLED FOOD DESERT. RYTF COMBATS THE LACK OF HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS FOR OUR PEOPLE THROUGH OUR URBAN FARMING PROGRAM, WHICH GIVES RYTF MEMBERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW HEALTHY, ORGANIC PRODUCE FOR THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEIR COMMUNITY. THROUGH VOLUNTEERING ON OUR ACRE URBAN FARM, YOUTH GAIN FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS AND SUSTAINABLE URBAN FARMING PRACTICES AND HEALTHY EATING HABITS. THROUGH RUNNING OUR WEEKLY FARM STAND DURING THE SUMMER AND FALL, RYTF YOUTH LEARN ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS LIKE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MANAGING INVENTORY.

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING RESISTANCE EDUCATION (C.O.R.E): CORE SERVES AS RYTF'S PRIMARY EDUCATION VEHICLE. CORE IS AN 10-WEEK SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSE THAT TEACHES THE BASICS OF MOVEMENT BUILDING AND ADVOCACY. TOPICS INCLUDE THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, ROCKAWAY HISTORY, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CIVICS, AND CAMPAIGN DEVELOPMENT. CORE IS A PREREQUISITE FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ROCKAWAY ADVOCACY PROGRAM. GENERAL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENROLL IN THE COURSE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND HOW TO BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN LOCAL ADVOCACY ISSUES.