In honor of Juneteenth, we invite you to partner with us to invest in unlocking the potential of youth. As the African proverb states, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Over the next year, I Am, We Are (IAWA) is hosting programming for high schoolers in the US (Washington, DC area) and South Africa (Royal Bafokeng Nation) to build life skills, leadership skills, and strong cross-cultural ties to support each other’s dreams and ambitions. With your support we will be able to provide mentoring, career planning guidane, mental and wellbeing lessons, and entrepreneurial workshops so our youth can thrive in all areas of their lives. Every little bit helps and we thank you for your support.

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when US federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. On June 17, 2021, it officially became a US federal holiday. 

WHO IS I AM, WE ARE?

I Am, We Are envisions a world where all youth are socially engaged, globally aware, and economically free. We focus on empowering youth with the mindset and skills necessary to become self-sufficient adults. Our holistic approach to youth and leadership development supports the organizational goal of improving the social, emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of youth across Africa and her diaspora.

Through our culturally responsive programs rooted in community, participants shift how they view themselves and our anticipated impact is that our youth grow their personal consciousness, global awareness, entrepreneurial mindset, and sense of social responsibility. Our work prioritizes under-served communities where we can augment community understanding and support the dreams of Black children. We work with African and African diaspora communities and allies to bridge the systemic gaps, manifesting as poverty and adverse childhood experiences, preventing equitable access to educational, economical, and social opportunities.