YIA Media Team members debut digital stories. click here to view
It's official! Providence is the host city for the 2011 Free Minds Free People Conference. Contact Adeola@youthinactionRI.org to learn more.
The Y4C Alliance presents a youth-led Mayoral Candidates Forum on Thursday, August 12 @ 3:30pm. For more info contact Keith@y4cri.org
YIA headquarters is located in a 4-story house in the heart of South Providence. The home was purchased, renovated and developed through the efforts of our youth members, and is a physical symbol of the power of youth voice. The house currently features 2 floors of office and program space, with unique elements such as a media room, college room, youth offices, and a kitchen for cooking and sharing meals together. The 3rd and 4th floors of the home serve as affordable housing and the rental income provides support for a portion of YIA’s overhead expenses.
Since 1997, YIA’s 700+ youth members have changed the landscape of Providence by reaching more than 10,000 of their peers with violence prevention programming, health education, multi-cultural events, arts programming and community renovation projects.
A three-and-a-half year initiative, YIA youth petitioned the Providence City Council to allocate $390,000 of city funds to create the Art Park, transforming a dirt, vacant lot next to a middle school into a community Art Park which includes murals, mosaic benches and tables, a basketball court and a water park. The idea for the Art Park was born from a neighborhood survey conducted by YIA youth, in which community members voiced their frustrations over the lack of safe and clean spaces for their children to play. The Art Park, much like the house, is a visible product of the efforts of youth and community.
