The Young Womens Project

THE YOUNG WOMENS PROJECT (YWP)ENGAGES UNDER-RESOURCED YOUTH OF COLOR, AGES 14-21, WITH A FOCUS ONTEEN WOMEN AND YOUTH IN CARE. DURING THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2020, YWP HIRED AND TRAINED 262 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 25 DC PUBLIC AND CHARTER SCHOOLS, ALL BACKGROUNDS AND IDENTITIES, ALL WARDS, MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH AND WOMEN. HALF OF OUR YOUTH LIVE OR GO TO SCHOOL IN WARDS 5, 7 AND 8; 20 PERCENT ARE SYSTEM IDENTIFIED OR DEALING WITH UNSTABLE HOUSING. YWP HAS BUILT A CITYWIDE NETWORK MEMBERSHIP OF HUNDREDS OF YOUTH ADVOCATES IN ALL WARDS, MOST SCHOOLS, UNITED BEHIND A SHARED VISION OF YOUTH PROGRESS AND WORKING TOWARD A CITY WHERE YOUTH ARE ENGAGED IN THE DECISIONS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT IMPACT THEIR LIVES. YWPS WORK IS ORGANIZED INTO TWO PROGRAM AREAS.

YOUTH HEALTH EDUCATOR PROGRAM (YHEP) - YOUNG PEOPLE COME INTO OUR ORGANIZATION AS PEER EDUCATORS THROUGH THE YHEP, A PARTNERSHIP WITH DC HEALTH AND DCPS, WHERE THEY WORK IN THEIR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES EDUCATING THEIR PEERS, DISTRIBUTING CONDOMS, AND REFERRING YOUTH TO CLINICS. YOUTH STAFF EARN 15 AN HOUR, WORK ON TEAMS AND WITH A MANAGER, APPLY THEIR SKILLS, DEVELOP PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, AND PUT TOGETHER A PORTFOLIO OF WORK PRODUCTS. IN 2021, WE HIRED AND TRAINED 182 YOUTH STAFF FROM ALL WARDS AND 24 PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHO ENGAGED MORE THAN 12,000 OF THEIR PEERS THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND REFERRALS THAT CONNECT YOUTH TO ESSENTIAL MENTAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH RESOURCES. IN YEAR ONE, PEER EDUCATORS ENGAGE IN A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM THAT TEACHES SEXUAL HEALTH AND PEER EDUCATION AS WELL AS LIFE SKILLS;

YOUTH JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS (YJC) - IN YEAR TWO, YOUTH EDUCATORS JOIN THE YJC, WHERE THEY WORK AS ADVOCATES AND ORGANIZERS TO ADVANCE A BOLD ADVOCACY AGENDA BASED ON THE REAL-LIFE ISSUES, AND LEVERAGE THEIR POWER THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AND IMPROVE YOUTH-SERVING SYSTEMS. YWP HAS 40 YOUTH ADVOCATES MEETING TWICE A WEEK AND WORKING ON FOUR MAIN CAMPAIGNS: INCREASING YOUTH AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES, EXPANDING SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, IMPROVING PUBLIC EDUCATION THROUGH YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN TRANSITION PLANNING AND BUDGET DECISION-MAKING, AND EXPANDING YOUTH VOTING RIGHTS.

DC HEALTH CREATED THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC) IN 2019 TO DEVELOP YOUNG LEADERS WHO LIVE IN DC AND ARE INTERESTED IN ENSURING BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE YOUNG WOMEN'S PROJECT (YWP) IS IMPLEMENTING THE 2022-2023 YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DC HEALTH. THE YOUNG WOMEN'S PROJECT IS A DC NONPROFIT THAT BUILDS THE LEADERSHIP AND POWER OF ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO TRANSFORM DC INSTITUTIONS TO EXPAND RIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DC YOUTH.