Young people have a lot at stake when it comes to the future of their communities and our democracy as a whole. The COVID-19 pandemic, recent movements for racial justice, and climate disasters have heightened the urgency to ensure that young people play an active, informed role in decision-making processes that have serious consequences for our collective future.
On Saturday, October 1 from 9 am - 4 pm, the "We Belong, IE Freedom Summer" summit will be hosted at UC Riverside! This day-long event will feature a variety of youth-led workshops on how to educate, empower, and build community for the IE's youth and college students. Attendees will enjoy free food, souvenirs, and enter for a chance to win a prize. Student leaders and their local organizing team members will host the CA Freedom Summer Leadership Institute at UCR’s brand new Student Success Center, where they will receive intensive training on methods to engage a broader constituency.
Workshops: The workshops will focus on voter and labor rights, youth organizing, education, formerly incarcerated you, media, and basic needs. Over the course of the summer, leaders and their team members engaged youth on local issues and amplified youth civic engagement across the region. Specifically, CFS is partnering with colleges, universities, and local non-profits to host this daylong youth empowerment conference. *Detailed agenda will be shared soon
Audience: The intended audience for this summit is youth and college students from across the Inland Empire. This summit will be hosted and organized by youth and the workshops are intended to build their knowledge, expertise, and to build community for action.
Disclaimer: During the event, photography, audio, and video recording may occur. By attending the event you consent to such recording media and its publication for promotional purposes and inclusion on websites.
About California Freedom Summer: California Freedom Summer (CFS) is a participatory-action research project that engages students across California. These students will participate in non-partisan youth voter education and grassroots youth organizing efforts in low-income urban and rural communities that have experienced a disproportionate negative impact from recent historical developments.
Through university-community partnerships, CFS will place trained students as Summer 2022 interns and action researchers in 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations to mentor other young leaders, conduct voter education, and support grassroots campaigns. These student leaders will also collect, analyze, and disseminate data that contributes to academic research and informs youth-led efforts. Importantly, the project will also include coursework that orients students to the historical, economic, social, and political dynamics shaping outcomes for racially diverse youths, while also equipping them with applied research skills to examine voter registration, voter education, and grassroots organizing efforts. Student training will be conducted in coordination with YO! California (a youth organizing training network), Power California (a youth voter-engagement network), and their affiliated youth organizing groups.
About Intercollegiate Council of California: The Intercollegiate Council of California-Inland Empire (ICC-IE) is a region-wide effort to unify the student leaders and recent alumni of the IE’s colleges and universities by establishing a robust network that meets regularly to 1) discuss common challenges, 2) share resources, 3) collaborate on solutions, and 4) actively engage with stakeholders and decision-makers to advance an agenda of innovation, inclusion, and equity that inspires and retains the IE’s talent. The Council seeks representation from each college campus in the IE and fosters a connection between student governing councils, affinity groups, college students, and recent alumni. The Council provides data, resources, toolkits, trainings, and other critical resources to students so that they can be change-makers in local community affairs that cross beyond their campus walls.
About UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center: Since its founding in 1969, the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center (CSRC) has played a pivotal role in the development of scholarly research on the U.S. Chicano-Latino population. Our research mission is supported by five distinct components: a library with special collections archive, an academic press, collaborative research projects, public and academic programs, and community-based partnerships.
About Center for Social Innovation, UC Riverside: The Center for Social Innovation provides a credible research voice that spurs civic leadership and policy innovation. Its reputation is built on the key pillars of social science, strategic policy awareness, innovation mindsets, and deep community partnerships. CSI integrates researchers, community organizations, and civic stakeholders in collaborative projects and long-term partnerships that strengthen shared values of resilience, inclusion, sustainability, and equity (RISE). Importantly, the Center seeks to shift away from a “problem” narrative to an “opportunity” narrative for marginalized communities and localities.
