06/05/2020
On Behalf of Youth MOVE North Carolina
As the statewide chapter of Youth MOVE, our mission is to advocate for the rights of young people in our communities, in our state, and throughout our country. We achieve this by using our collective voices as a tool. We train young people how to act as leaders and utilize their will, their voices, and their unity to fight for what we know is right and just. It is our responsibility to advocate for those who are not being heard, and give them a platform to speak.
We believe that Mental and Behavioral Health is a key part of our whole health, and that we must fight to protect our health. Every day, we advocate for issues that affect us, and ensure that those in power listen to our concerns. We recognize that racism, oppression, and inequality negatively affect the health and well-being of Black youth and young adults. We must fight to ensure their health and well-being are not in danger.
It is during these times, when youth and young adults from across the country are standing up to the injustices they face on a daily basis, when they are participating in civil and peaceful protest of inequalities that effect the health and well-being of Black youth and young adults across the country, we know that it is our duty to stand up and speak up in a time where voices are being suppressed.
But we must go beyond speaking out. We believe it is time to listen to those who are trying to speak. We believe that we must create a dialogue that allows those who are voiceless to be heard. In order for us to achieve our mission of being heard by those in power, we must create a space that allows the voices of the Black community to be at the forefront, and their concerns to be of the upmost priority.
We believe in order to achieve our mission, it is important that we stand in solidarity with the Black community, and that we listen to what they have to say, and provide them the platform they need to be heard by those in power. As an organization that is engrained in advocacy and equality, we must ensure that those who need to be heard are listened to, loud and clear.
As we move forward, Youth MOVE North Carolina will make it our mission to ensure that those who are being oppressed, and those who are facing inequality, are heard, and that we advocate with them to ensure youth and young adults are safe, healthy, and have their needs met. We believe that Black Lives Matter, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that their health and well being is protected from the racism and oppression they face every day.
We are in this together.
Youth MOVE North Carolina Leadership team
