John,
Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) is excited to announce the relaunch of our historic Black Student Leadership Network (BSLN), which trains young leaders in community organizing and policy advocacy, focusing particularly on those attending historically Black colleges and universities.
Founded in 1960, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) set an example of the importance of civic engagement in the pursuit of justice. During the contemporary Civil Rights Movement, students were on the frontline of marches, protests, and sit-ins. Students strategically organized, demanding that democracy work for them. Their action included organizing voter registration drives, grooming candidates to run for office, and establishing office sites in marginalized communities. In today’s movement for thriving democracy and a just economy, youth leadership is just as important, and we are proud to support these efforts.
Like our original BSLN of the 1990s, led by the late Lisa Sullivan, today’s effort works to address systemic injustices facing Black communities. This engagement and mobilization effort focuses on training Black students and youth in community organizing, movement building, and policy advocacy, under the guidance of Kayla Waysome, organizing manager for students and youth.
In December, CDF’s Alex Haley Farm hosted over 60 students from more than 10 colleges and universities learning about community organizing and policy. BSLN students emphasized a number of pressing concerns in their communities including safety, mental health, food insecurity, reproductive rights, voting rights, economic security, and housing.
