HOW IT STARTED
THE ISSuE
Even now, when crime is down, local media and elected officials continue to feed old narratives about young people that seem lifted from the script of The Wire. But Baltimore's young people—especially those who have contact with law enforcement—are so much more.
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We need to see this "more." Because all Baltimore kids have talents, hopes, potential, and futures, and all deserve our attention, love, and support.
THE ACTION
Local youth-centered organizations in the Baltimore area gathered to find a way to make our voices heard. Over the course of a few months, we developed a campaign to deliver to the Baltimore public that shows we—the youth—are more.​​
THE PROCESS
COLLABORATION
Through Zoom calls and virtual whiteboards, our organizations gathered to collaborate and craft key messages we wanted to share with the public about Baltimore youth. Our process created space for all young participants to express their perspectives, ensuring every voice was heard. We collected a wide range of thoughtful feedback that informed our final results.
"I AM" VS. "WE ARE"
AND WHY "MORE"?
WHY "MORE"?
Youth in Business reviewed all the feedback, statements, and thought for the fellow youth and felt most statements fell into three categories:
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Feeling Underestimated
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Feeling Unheard/Overlooked
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Viewed as Trouble
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It felt like every category fell under the same umbrella of adults and lawmakers having assumptions or pre-conceived thoughts about who THEY thought young people were.
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Many YIB members agreed that the term "I AM" was fitting but overused. "I AM MORE" not only has the same energy as traditional "I AM" statements, but also offers space to challenge those that have a low or negative view of young people in Baltimore.
"I AM" VS.
"WE ARE"
If you've read this far, you might have noticed more uses of the phrase "I am" rather than our "We are." After rounds of feedback from different groups we felt "We are" was ultimately more inclusive, aligning with our goal of not only reaching the general public, but resonating with youth like us.