Youth Leadership

Logan Child Poverty Community Forum

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The forum was one in of 47 forums being held in support of the statewide campaign called “Our Children, Our Future,” sponsored by the WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition and 126 partner organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee, the WV Council of Churches, and many elected officials legislators, community organizations, universities and families. Logan High School Believing All is Possible (BAPS) Youth Leadership members Summer Burgess and Jasmine Murphy spoke on the issues of teen pregnancy and prison overcrowding. Photos: Lida Shepherd

Members of the BAPS (Believing All is Possible!) youth leadership program in Logan, West Virginia were front and center at a community forum about child poverty in March 2013.  Sponsored by AFSC and a dozen other organizations, the forum focused on prison overcrowding, teen pregnancy prevention, family violence prevention, and parent education.  Advocates as well as people impacted by poverty spoke.

EPIC wants Fairness

Boone County girls empowerment group EPIC standing around Upper Rotunda before meeting with legislators

On March 5th, youth leaders of EPIC (Empowered Prioritized Intelligent Chicks) of Sherman High School in Boone County, West Virginia advocated for the Employment and Housing Nondiscrimination Act (EHNDA) at the State Capitol.  Frustrated about bullying and discrimination around sexual orientation at their high school, they learned about advocacy at the state level in order to make change locally.  

BAPS at Kids and Families Day

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On February 26th, 2013, BAPS youth leadership group, a program of the American Friends Service Committee, traveled to the West Virginia State Capitol for Kids and Families Day. Students participated in the kickoff of the statewide child poverty campaign, Our Children, Our Future: The Campaign to End Child Poverty Photos: Beth Spence

On February 26th, 2013  BAPS youth leadership group, a program of the American Friends Service Committee, traveled to the State Capitol for Kids and Families Day, to participate in the kickoff of the statewide child poverty campaign, Our Children, Our Future: The Campaign to End Child Poverty.

Logan Black History Month

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On February 19, 2013, AFSC's Appalachian Center for Equality hosted a presentation on Black History Month. ACE program participants spoke in front of Logan, WV residents at Logan High School's Little Theatre. Photos: Beth Spence

Young leaders in Logan, West Virignia honored Black History Month this year by hosting a youth program at Logan High School Little Theatre on February 19th, 2013.  Over 50 community members were in attendance.  Performances included a poetry reading of "America" by Maya Angelou, presentation of excerpts from President Obama's 2013 inauguration speech, a powerpoint presentation on African American innovators, and speeches summarizing student interviews of local human rights heroes.

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Young leaders in Logan, W.Va., honored Black History Month this year by hosting a youth program at Logan High School Little Theatre on Feb. 19, 2013. Over 50 community members were in attendance.

Performances included a poetry reading of "America" by Maya Angelou, presentation of excerpts from President Obama's 2013 inauguration speech, a powerpoint presentation on African American innovators, and speeches summarizing student interviews of local human rights heroes.

Ms. Mia with HAP scholars

The summer of 2010, the Youth Empowerment through Conflict Resolution Program expanded its conflict resolution and mediation training to middle school students at the Higher Achievement Program’s 6 week summer learning program.  Mediation helped resolve conflicts not only between scholars, but between scholars and staff.  In 7/8 of the mediations, the situation was resolved.  None of the disputants needed further mediation.