The Social Justice Immersion (SJI) is an after-school program held during the Spring & Fall for Black, Indigenous and Teens of Color interested in creating social change. It is a place to connect, organize, gather, laugh, play, learn and step up, expanding & deepening our collective ideas of change and building core skills to organize direct action. Youth have the power of becoming stewards of both their natural and social environment. Youth and most specifically historically marginalized youth, have the power to shape culture, shape their community and thus shape change.
SJI combines hands-on land based arts & skills, collective leadership, civic engagement & political education. It is a community transformational space to develop a loving relationship to the land, ourselves and each other.
Participants receive a $350 stipend at the end of this program.This is an in-person program. We follow COVID-19 Safety protocols which includes the use of masks and social distancing.
Who is this for? This program is for Black, Indigenous, and youth of color ages 14 - 18 who are passionate about community organizing and activism. Where is this? We will be meeting at the Youth Farm Project Farm and at the Just Be Cause Center. Bus available from IHS.
When is this? Sept 20 - Nov 18 Tuesdays & Thursdays 4 pm - 6:30 pm
This is transformational space, a place where we can come together to expand our sense of power, unlearn, rediscover and imagine, remembering nourishing examples of liberation movements so we can humbly do our part.
“SJI helps me reunite with the earth. To have the opportunity to work as a team with people that I love, to strive for radical transformation of the food system in the name of land sovereignty is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life. It gives me purpose, but more importantly it gives me hope, that reviving one’s sacred connection to the earth will no longer be recognized as a privilege, but as a fundamental human right.”
Consider the roles played in social movements and then match them with your own skills and passion. What kind of power/skill do you bring to your community? What skills do you want to develop?
"SJI is meaningful to me because I find it restorative and healing. I find solace in the farm land and I get to learn from my peers every meeting. As cliche as it is, SJI provides a safe space where I feel free to be myself and I really value that. Having a place where you can learn, grow, and be yourself is so important and I’m especially grateful to have that space while not being in school."
"Staying connected to my community, that is what SJI means to me. Giving back to the earth and learning more sustainable ways to live through farming."
"It's meant having people that make me feel replenished, feeling like I am appreciated somewhere, and having somewhere that helps me feel connected to my community"
"I had so much fun in SJI, this program has really been awesome and brought me a great new support system. I love the people I've met through SJI and I love the opportunities it created for me. It really helped me realize how I want to be active when it comes to politics and community work when I'm older."
"It really meant a lot for my well-being and mental health, as well as my leadership and organization skills."
