Voices Influencing Building Equity
Voices Influencing Building Equity (VIBE) is a committee of directly impacted youth ages 14-30 focused on nurturing healing centered engagement, which is a holistic framework involving culture, spirituality, civic action and collective healing. The committee focuses on civic education and engagement, systems change, and narrative change as important aspects of promoting healing and well-being in communities. VIBE is rooted in the understanding that trauma is not just an individual experience but is also shaped by social and structural factors, including systemic oppression. We must address the root causes and toxic systems that continue to harm our youth.
Committee Focus
Community Violence Intervention
The VIBE committee is committed to supporting youth, providing connections, and providing spaces fir positive development for those who are at-risk of gun violence and community violence. In doing this, we work with young people to envision and cultivate a community where community violence and interactions with police and the criminal legal system are diverted, what that looks like is guided by the youth we work with and for.
Civic Education and Engagement
VIBE prides itself on educating and equipping youth and young adults with the tools they need to step into their own power. During civic education training, participants learn about the local elections and policies that impact their daily lives. Our goal is to not only promote voting among the 18-30 population, but to also provide young people with the knowledge they need to make informed voting decisions, and participate in local government beyond the ballot box.
