Today is the National Day of Racial Healing. The significance and necessity of this day could not be more apparent.
The pain so many Americans are experiencing is grounded in a long history of inequity and division, but the events of the past week, month, and year have accumulated to make this moment feel particularly raw. Today, as has been the case so often this past year, we are inspired by the ideas, ingenuity, and leadership of young people who are working to build a more just and hopeful future.
We are proud to announce the Power of Youth Challenge: Youth Leading Racial Healing, a leadership and service opportunity supporting youth-designed projects that promote racial equity and address systemic racism. Through this opportunity, young people aged 13-19 can identify a need in their own communities and receive $250 in mini-grants to address that need through a one-time or ongoing COVID-safe service project. From establishing a school anti-racism committee to bolstering the availability of books and resources by Black authors in a local library, these projects are meant to reinforce and honor our shared humanity while celebrating the distinct differences that make our communities vibrant.
At this moment in history, it is particularly important to acknowledge the deep racial divisions that exist in America and empower young people to curate solutions to help people of all ages heal.
