I Am MORE's research- and evidence-based programming for the BYLF supports Black youth to:
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Find belonging within a shrinking Black community that is physically spread out and immersed in externalized & internalized racism;
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Become exposed to hands-on and paid professional development opportunities that ignite their career and/or creative or service passions;
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Connect with community-based service-learning opportunities grounded in social justice;
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Explore entrepreneurship, through skill-building opportunities, mentorship, and competitive access to funding for youth-run businesses;
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Organize, promote and participate in public events that provide space for youth voices to be centered, and to showcase youth leadership, creativity, ingenuity, and talent;
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Engage in a Youth Advisory Council, which will make recommendations on training programs, funding opportunities and types of events.
City of Portland's
Black Youth Leadership Fund
Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty (l) with BYLF Program Manager Dr. S. Renee Mitchell (r)
STEP ONE: On Feb. 23, 2022, Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty and Mayor Ted Wheeler brought forward the Black Youth Leadership Fund for its first hearing before the Portland City Council, nearly two years after Hardesty first proposed the idea. She also chose Dr. Mitchell as the program manager. Watch a live stream of Dr. Mitchell's presentation on YouTube (segment starts at 1:13:13)
STEP TWO: The fund, which totalled $950,000, was unanimously approved by the Portland City Council. A YouTube live stream of the vote and comments from council members can be viewed on YouTube (segment begins at 1:05.06)
Our 2022 Know Thyself Rite of Passage Summer Internship for Black Youth
Our paid internship introduces Black youth to evidence- and research-based programming developed by Dr. S. Renee Mitchell, the visionary founder of I Am MORE. Her consulting company has won multiple national awards for its culturally relevant, inside-out approach to social-emotional learning (SEL), which empowers Black youth to:
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Engage in a deeply intensive leadership-building program with other Black youth.
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Improve their social-emotional challenges through healing-focused, cultural programming, events and outings.
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Raise their critical consciousness about historical and current racism.
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Develop their capacity to engage in social-justice action projects.
Classes include:
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Entrepreneurship
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Financial Literacy
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Expressing Oneself
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Black History
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Mental Health Support
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Screen Printing
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Music Production
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Video production
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Podcasting
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Creative Arts
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Meditation / Self-care
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Soulful Yoga
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Drumming
Comments from our 2022 internship
"I have grown a lot over the last seven weeks. My attitude has improved so much. I have gotten a lot better at controlling my temper/emotions. This is going to help me so much as I am entering adulthood. I am very proud of my growth. I am proud of the woman I am becoming. I am so excited for my future.
~ intern Sanihaj
"Stories of activism, ownership, love and grief, Black history class taught me about the people who built the people who built me. I learned to voice, to make connections to the world and connect the world to who I am. I learned to show up, not just intellectually, physically, and mentally but spiritually. Black History changed the way I perceive the world around me and the way I perceive myself. ~ intern Laya
BYLF Advisory Board
coleReed
Artist/Entrepreneur
Antonio Jackson
Building Blocks 2 Success
Imani Muhammad
Y.O.U.th (Youth Organized & United to help)
Shiloh Day
Youth Representative
Renee Anderson
Black Student Success Community Network
PLUS representatives of
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Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty
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Oregon Community Foundation
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Black United Fund
NOTE: We are in the process of forming an all-YOUTH advisory board who will make recommendations for which individual youth entrepreneurs and youth-serving organizations will receive BYLF grants before February 2023. If interested, please contact us at BlackJoy@IAmMOREresilient.com
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We connect Black people back to their...
(click individual photos to see short videos)
