Disparities based on race exist for young people in Minnesota; they include unequal access to opportunities like employment and healthcare, differing treatment in the classroom and on the sidewalk, profound disparities in housing instability, and lopsided rates of county involvement (juvenile detention and incarceration, as well as the child welfare system). In all walks of life, Indigenous youth and young people of color face obstacles based on race that their white counterparts do not. Additionally, intersecting identities like gender, citizenship, sexual orientation, class, and ability shape the experiences of these youth in overlapping ways. Forces behind structural racism and implicit bias allow these racial disparities to endure and adapt over time.
Policy
Youthprise understands that to fulfill our vision and mission, policy–both legislative and administrative–is a key that shifts systems and increases equity.
In public policy advocacy, we mobilize the voice of Youthprise partners, grantees, and youth to advocate for public policies that:
Increase public investment in afterschool and summer learning, youth development, juvenile justice, and workforce readiness.
Promote cross-system collaborations between afterschool, schools, juvenile justice, child welfare, housing stability, workforce development, health, and other systems to address the holistic developmental needs of youth.
Reduce disparities in access to opportunities for learning, economic prosperity, and health and safety.
Empower youth voice in policy decisions.
Legislative Session
Policy Timeline
