AFCOST Symposium 2021

Tyrell Dortch of Moses Boys to Men will moderate a panel including Michael and Donna Dawson of Innovators for Purpose, Queen-Cheyenne Wade of Black Response and Youth HEART Summer Cohort, Solomon Montagno of City Sprouts and ashley herring of blackyard. This extraordinary group of out of school time professionals will discuss their journeys in the important work to transform how we define youth and community development, prioritizing racial equity in who leads the way, centering Black and brown youth and families’ interests, needs and hopes as core to their practice. Young people are growing food, making art for Black liberation, preparing to engage in the innovation economy, building a student led movement, transforming approaches to justice in schools and communities with caring adults in high quality programs. These programs are home to the young people and their families, who rely on them to partner, share resource and hold high expectations, realizing new possibilities for themselves and their community.