"Our region now has the opportunity to build a stronger future by investing in Black youth and other youth of color. Our collective experience in the nonprofit sector, public policy, and philanthropy tell us that the greatest returns on investment come from building up youth leadership and inviting them to co-design policy solutions. We have also learned through research and experience that, by centering the voices of youth, especially those that are most marginalized, we are creating equitable outcomes for everyone. Adults can help facilitate this process, but the quicker we can get to having young people lead, the better off we will be in creating enduring solutions."

Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Mentoring Action Network. Corey Jackson is CEO of Sigma Beta Xi: SBX Youth and Family Services. Karthick Ramakrishnan is professor and director of the Center for Social Innovation at University of California, Riverside

Read More Here