Youth Action Team: An Interview With Gavin Grant

Posted by on December 16, 2011

Gavin Grant is a junior at Temple University and has worked tirelessly as the current Vice-President and Spokesperson for Youth Action, which brings young people together across college campuses through the student-led civic engagement projects and networking events. I spoke with him about how Youth Action started, their approach to bridging the gap between college and high-school and the unique rewards and challenges of facilitating a group of civically engaged youth that span neighborhoods, educational backgrounds and age groups.

Q: What is the history of Youth Action? Why was it started?

A: Youth Action was founded in 2003, by young African American youth from Philadelphia and the surrounding area who attended the Tavis Smiley Foundation’s (TSF) Youth to Leaders National Summit in Washington, DC. The TSF partnered with Youth Ventures, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting youth-led social entrepreneurial projects. At this conference, “Youth Action” was one of four groups that formed project teams to address community issues of concerns. Youth Action developed a business plan for a project that sought to raise awareness about Teenage Pregnancy, and the group was awarded a $1,000 grant by Youth Ventures to complete the project.

After completing the project, the team wanted to continue their work. And we started Youth Action because we wanted to maintain our commitment to community involvement. As a non-profit led by high school and college students, we wanted all of our future efforts to encourage and empower those in our peer group to improve their own lives and create positive social change in their communities. We’ve shifted our services over the years, not only to address teenage pregnancy, but to all challenges that youth are facing in urban communities.

Those who are involved in Youth Action also learn community organizing, volunteer and develop into strong leaders. Additionally, all members of Youth Action receive non-profit management and service project organizing training from senior members of the team.

Contact Gavin Grant at ggrant@youthactionteam.org or 1-888-Youth90 ext 901.

Q: What work led you to coordinating Youth Action Philadelphia?

A: Before I joined Youth Action, I had been involved in a number of community service and engagement initiatives around the city. I worked on youth workforce development projects; participated in neighborhood cleanups; served in many homeless shelters; and I was an active tutor in school and at my local recreation center’s after-school program. I was introduced to Youth Action when I attended their Charity Gala in 2008. I immediately asked to join the team because I was extremely impressed by the work Youth Action was doing in the community. I have been working with Youth Action for almost 4 years and I have enjoyed every moment. Currently, I serve as the Vice-President and Spokesperson of Youth Action. I am responsible for leading and supporting the team’s project operations; working on development plans; and keeping the public informed about the service work Youth Action is doing in Philadelphia.

Q: What is the scope of the projects you are currently working on?

A: Youth Action is focusing on College Readiness, Preparation and Access. We will commence a year-long youth-led college readiness program in January 2012. The program intends to encourage high school students on preparation for college by offering a variety of college readiness workshops, college tours, college-to-high school student mentoring, and assistance with the college application process. Through our work with the students, we want to motivate and empower them to view college as a viable option for their lives.

We are also in the process of organizing a “College Day” event which will look to bring together at least one hundred high school students and at least one hundred college students. It will feature keynote speakers, student-led college panels, admission officers, and college informational booths. And all college students will be asked to wear their college paraphernalia on that day and share with students their college experiences.

Q: What led Youth Action to take this on as an issue?

A: In our local Philadelphia community, a large number of minority students continue to fall short academically; it has been difficult for students to meet college readiness standards; and dropout rates continue to increase for a variety of reasons. Youth Action is concerned about this. So we’d like to raise awareness to the issue and assist these students in the best way we can.

With that said, I think that it’s important to note that the problem isn’t that minority students lack determination. Asserting that students are lazy and don’t want to work hard is an easy way to side-step the real issue. Even further, we can’t make the assumption that students simply do not want to go to college. We’ve discovered that most believe that going to college is one of the best options. So why does the problem persist? There are a number of factors. But Youth Action believes that many students: have not been properly introduced to the college application process, have not been given the tools to successfully navigate the process, and are not provided with educational opportunities both inside and outside of school that help them get accepted into a college or university.  Many consider their experience and success during high school as important determinants of whether college is “for them.”

It is our goal to provide these students with the tools and support they will need in their path to higher education.

Q: Your model is to engage both high-school and college students in civic engagement together. This is really unique. What have you seen come out of this combination that might not happen if these groups were separate?

A: It’s unique and sometimes it’s poses a challenge, as well. What I’ve noticed is that, in the beginning, some of the college students forget what appeals to high school students; and high school students differ from college students in their approach to (and understanding of) planning and organizing. The longer college and high school students to work with one another as members of Youth Action; I notice that these differences and gaps close significantly. And what ultimately comes out of the collaboration is, in my opinion, amazing – a strong relationship which each student can learn and grow from. When the high school and college students work together, they have to quickly establish a comfortable relationship which allows them to engage one another and approach their project or task in the most positive, active and productive way. As soon as everyone really gets to know one another, they receive incredible understanding, support, and encouragement from each of their team members. They gain different perspectives, ideas, and viewpoints on issues through both the brainstorming and organizing processes and Youth Action has reaped all of the benefits. Multiple ideas and perspectives have allowed us to be creative and innovative in our approach to engaging other high school and college students in advocacy and civic engagement.