- Social Innovation Fellowship
Concentration
Award Year
Chicago
1 in every 20 students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools last year reported being homeless. These youth often hide from government agencies, so their voices are rarely heard and policies that affect them do not take their needs into account. This puts homeless youth into a vicious cycle of unemployment and homelessness. It also makes it extremely difficult for organizations to rally for change on their behalf. Seen and Heard will build a movement in which homeless youth work to affect policy in Chicago. The youth in Seen and Heard will be recruited from youth centers and trained in principles of civic engagement. They will work with leaders in their communities to build opportunities for local and city-wide change. By bringing them together with a common mission, Seen and Heard will empower homeless youth with strong relationships and confidence.