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It’s hard to believe that the National Summit has come and gone. The YP4 and People For the American Way Foundation staff, as well as all of our speakers and presenters, left the Summit inspired and excited by fellows’ energy, creativity, and commitment to making real and meaningful social change in their communities.
Along with the 150 students from 86 campuses in 29 states, more than 30 organizations and 100 progressive leaders participated in the Summit as speakers and workshop trainers.
We thank our fellows and organizational partners for their commitment to working toward positive sustainable change.
As we mentioned throughout the weekend, the Summit was just the beginning — we have a lot of work to do! The YP4 team has now started contacting fellows to figure out how to support them in creating their Blueprints for Social Justice.
Check out pictures, tag friends and upload your own on YP4’s Facebook page.
You can also search the #yp409 Twitter hashtag and tag Flickr photos YP4.
Crystallee Rene Crain is an activist, community organizer, journalist and teacher. She is an associate fellow with the Transformative Studies Institute as well as our Leadership Academy fellow! In the sociology courses that she has taught in institutions of higher education, Crystallee has successfully organized her own students around social justice issues. Crystallee has organized in Flint, Ypsilanti, Kalamazoo, Saginaw and Benton Harbor, Mich., through her Michigan Voter Engagement Project. Her passion lies in community organizing, creating safe spaces for LGBTQ people of color, and nonpartisan voter mobilization. She believes that all people have a voice and should have the opportunity to participate in the political process. Most recently she has been working with Advocates for Youth as an online peer educator for young people struggling with their sexual identities and sexual orientation. She is also working with groups across the state of Michigan to secure safe places for LGBTQ people of color. Crystallee has also served on YP4’s steering committee.
Crystallee is a native of Flint, Mich., and currently resides in Ypsilanti, Mich. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master of Arts in Social Sciences. Currently she is working towards her Ph.D. in transformative studies with the California Institute of Integral Studies. She has experience working in campaign management, direct advocacy and lobbying, as well as grassroots organizing in diverse as well as homogenous communities. Crystallee has been a part of the Front Line Leaders Academy, a campaign training program through People For the American Way Foundation.
You can always find events on YP4’s site and at the Center for Progressive Leadership.
Fellows from all years can post events on YP4.org.
Are you interested in...
- Developing the skills base needed for field strategy, campaign management, communications and fundraising?
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Learning campaign and leadership skills from successful elected officials and proven campaign experts?
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Organizing and serving your community with your progressive values?
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Becoming a public servant to address the ills of your community?
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Running campaigns for progressive candidates?
The Front Line Leaders Academy (FLLA) might be right for you!
You too can join the eight-month program to work with campaign professionals and Young Elected Officials, developing the necessary skills to become the next generation of progressive candidates, campaign leaders and community organizers.
Questions? E-mail Desmond Seymour at dseymour@pfaw.org or call 850.877.0307.
Call for papers: Undergraduate journal on international development
SCOUT BANANA, in conjunction with Michigan State University’s African Studies Center and Office of International Development, invites you to submit a manuscript to Articulate: Undergraduate Research Applied to International Development.
[ Learn more ]
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At this year’s National Summit, several YP4 senior fellows shared their experiences with the new fellows by leading trainings. Here are two of them, both of whom were 2007 fellows and are current Leadership Academy fellows!
Ada Aroneanu, the daughter of Romanian immigrants, was exposed to civil and immigration rights issues early in life. As a 2007 YP4 fellow, she began working for civil and labor rights at Pomona College and co-founded its Campus Climate Challenge. After graduating, she became increasingly involved in the movement, first with PIRGS in climate change, and now as an organizer with 1Sky.
Christopher Ramos graduated from Pomona College in May with a degree in public policy analysis and sociology. In the past he has worked at Equality California, El Colegio Público San Cristóbal in Madrid, and the Housing Rights Center of Los Angeles. He currently works as a research assistant at the Williams Institute.
[ Read the interview ]
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Watch videos, upload your YP4 pictures and more! YP4’s on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Future 5000... you name it.
[ Connect with YP4 ]
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E-mail address changing?
Update your contact info so we can keep you in the loop.
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[ Join the conversation ]
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Job opportunities
People For the American Way Foundation has volunteer opportunities, including a library resources manager position. Internships are also available.
Choice USA has fall internships.
Democracy Matters is hiring paid interns. It is possible to hold a YP4 fellowship at the same time as a Democracy Matters internship.
The NAACP is hiring for several positions.
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is accepting applications for its organizing & training fellowship.
SCOUT BANANA, founded by 2007 fellow Alex Hill, is hiring an editor-in-chief and an education program coordinator.
UWIRE is hiring students as paid progressive and conservative opinion journalists.
Work for Progress is recruiting campus organizers, a canvass director, and fellows.
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Policy corner
“Long lines at the polls on Election Day are a problem not to be ignored. But imagine if you had been standing in line to vote since 1801. That’s where you’ll find the nearly 600,000 Americans living in DC. Thankfully, their 200-year wait is nearly over.’”
[ Read more on the blog ]
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Staff updates
Robert Mayer, formerly our director of education and leadership, has transitioned to a consulting role. He will provide curriculum development and program management guidance to the Leadership Academy while considering new opportunities in the progressive movement. Robert has played a key role in expanding YP4’s movement- and capacity-building program activities since joining the staff in 2006. He has organized pilot programs and trainings and supported countless fellows in their professional development. Under his leadership, YP4 has moved from piloting major initiatives to achieving excellence with established strategies that help fellows apply their skills and experience to professional roles in the progressive movement.
Sophia Kizilbash joined the YP4 team as a fellowship associate just before the 2008 National Summit. A strong relationship builder, she has provided terrific support to fellows and her successful outreach efforts to tribal communities have been essential to the development of our tribal college fellowship program. Sophia has accepted a position with the New York City Department of Education, where she will work on capacity building efforts for after-school programs; she will continue to work with us as a consultant.
Best wishes and our deepest thanks to Robert and Sophia!
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