Youth Empowerment Pipeline
The Youth Empowerment Pipeline is a youth-driven training program designed to create a viable pathway to extended study and leadership within the food justice movement via skill building workshops, meaningful engagement with community gardeners, urban farmers and various advocates in the food justice movement. The YEP internship was first piloted at Just Food, NYC from December 2019 to April 2020. The YEP bridges the experience gap within the food and social justice movement of young adult New Yorkers between the ages of 17-21, regardless of previous experience. It aims to provide critical resources, mentorship, and learning opportunities to 10 youth/young adults at risk of aging out of youth-specific programming or otherwise in need of gaining leadership experience. The Youth Empowerment Pipeline will increase integration of youth voices in crucial conversations by developing a youth training toolkit for youth-led organizations in food justice advocacy.
Our Objectives
Increase knowledge and understanding of socially just food systems & increase knowledge and understanding of root causes of inequities.
Increase youth-led advocacy for just and accountable food systems.
Increase and expand youth networks and influence
Increase confidence in public speaking abilities, Increase community participation skills, Increase in other life skills, increase prosocial behavior.
Hear from our YEP Youth Leaders
Our program aims to:
Train youth using our curriculum full of workshops and activities
Train youth through hands on opportunities for them to execute what they have learned including:
youth developed campaigns, workshops and projects
Continued peer to peer /training of trainers teaching and learning
Encouraging feedback that molds our program
Guest speakers during professional development sessions
Advance youth through network building and placement in programs/opportunities
As youth evolve, they acquire more leadership abilities, and eventually become the project leads of the pipeline.
Youth engage in:
Youth developed campaigns, workshops and projects
Critical engagement with food justice leaders during professional development sessions
Network building and placement in programs/opportunities
Direct learning from and within community gardens and urban farms.
Working with young New Yorkers to create social permanency for food justice, community gardening, and urban farming.
The Youth Empowerment Pipeline is…
“A very fun, informational, and engaging space where you can talk about all different topics that you are interested in and everyone is respectful and will always listen to what you have to say.”
—Derrick W.
“A fun program! You get to be a part of real-world discussions adults usually talk about while making a difference in the world.”
— Jayden S.
“A space where you get to learn about food justice issues among other social issues while also being able to practice your new knowledge in a garden setting. Engaging in exciting discussions and so many different activities strengthens your knowledge and understanding.”