Youth of Color Matter (2015)
The 5th annual Youth-Nex Conference, 'Youth Of Color Matter: Reducing Inequalities through Positive Youth Development' (#YoCM15), will provide a space for leaders across the country to investigate critical questions, dispel myths, and highlight youth of color as thriving contributors to their communities.
The United States is growing richer in racial and ethnic diversity, especially among our youth. Yet, amidst these profound changes, gross disparities persist in opportunities and outcomes, and many youth of color continue to be viewed through narrow lenses that reinforce negative stereotypes. How can we, as youth advocates, teens, educators, parents, researchers, and policymakers, use what we know about positive youth development to generate meaningful, measurable, widespread, and sustainable strategies for addressing inequalities?
Youth-Nex held its 5th annual conference, “Youth of Color Matter: Reducing Inequalities Through Positive Youth Development," on October 8-9, 2015. Amid national attention on the inequalities facing ethnic minority youth in the U.S., the center convened top scholars, policy makers, educators, and teenagers to the invitation-only conference. The event sparked welcome dissonance and lively conversation over the two days.
Conference Chair: Joanna Lee Williams, Ph.D.
Download the program and speaker biographies (PDF).
Read what conference attendees submitted as actionable steps to take after the conference!
Resources Page - Links to resources mentioned at the conference including videos that were shown.
Videos
Photos
Media Coverage
Read the articles written about our conference below:
- WTJU Radio: Joanna Lee Williams: Youth of Color Matter
- Cville Tomorrow: Youth development conference highlights after-school programs
- NBC29: UVA Holds 'Youth of Color Matter' Conference (Interview with Joanna Lee Williams)
- Del Mar Times: ‘Whatever It Takes’ class will give teens a chance to positively impact their communities
On the left, check out the buzz generated on Twitter by the conference, using #YoCM15!
About Youth-Nex
Youth-Nex, The UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development, is a trans-disciplinary center that aims to expand and apply the science of positive youth development to address fundamental challenges facing societies around the world.