By Marsha Mitchell, Senior Director of Communications
For 34 years, South Central Youth Empowered thru Action’s (SCYEA’s) purpose has been to develop the next generation of leaders, to improve public education, and close the achievement gap.
CoCo youth leaders learn the principles of community organizing and develop their individual leadership styles. Most importantly, as these young leaders graduate from high school, many go on to utilize their influence and impact to transform their collegiate campus communities and the world.
In addition to leadership development and community service, SCYEA provides a platform for youth to advocate for positive change. Participants are encouraged to voice their opinions, raise awareness about important issues, and work towards policy changes that benefit their South LA neighborhoods. SCYEA helps young people become active citizens who contribute to the betterment of society.
SCYEA cultivates well-rounded leaders by giving youth the ability to share their stories, understand issues that directly impact their quality of life, and engage their peers as well as decision-makers to change policies that are detrimental to South LA. The program includes: leadership development, education and training, community involvement, and advocacy. SCYEA currently serves 200 students per year across six South LA high schools. A core group of 15 youth leaders in grades 9-12 meets weekly for more intensive training and is given the support needed to emerge as adult leaders. Direct services embedded in SCYEA include academic tutoring, cultural enrichment, and mental health and wellness programming.
In 1997:
● SCYEA enacts its first direct-action campaign to ensure South Los Angeles schools receive an equitable share of funds from Proposition B.B. This school bond measure authorized $2.4 billion in bonds for the construction of new schools and the repair and modernization of existing schools. As a result, the Tax Bond Oversight Committee reopened the repair contracts and allocated an additional $153 million for repairs in overcrowded South L.A. schools.
● SCYEA youth protest Prop 21, which sought to incarcerate minors with adults.
In 2005:
● SCYEA student activists win A-G college prep classes for ALL students and schools in the LAUSD, making college prep courses a civil right
In 2007:
SCYEA youth win $350M in Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) funds to reduce class sizes and improve academic performance in South Los Angeles schools.
In 2013:
● SCYEA’s involvement leads to the passage of the School Climate Bill of Rights, which requires LAUSD schools to use proven and effective discipline approaches to address student misbehavior, such as restorative justice.
In 2015:
● LAUSD passes equity on A-G resolution to recommit to college prep for ALL students!
In 2021:
● SCYEA youth and parent-led “SENI 2.0 Equity is Justice” campaign garnered an additional $700 million to schools using the Student Equity Needs Index for the 2021-22 academic year.
● The “Mental Health is Mental Wealth” resolution, authored by SCYEA youth leader and first African American female LAUSD Student Board Member Kamarie Brown and Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin, directs the district to make relevant resources available to staff, students, and families to build greater awareness and skills around mental health and wellness. It was co-sponsored by the remaining board members.
● SCYEA youth leader and LAUSD Board Member Kamarie Brown also sponsored the Mommy, Daddy, and Me Resolution. The resolution calls on the Los Angeles Unified to work with teen mothers in creating a “comprehensive student maternity support system,” providing support for youth parents throughout the district, a historically underserved student population. This resolution held a special place in Brown’s heart, as her mother dropped out of school to have her. The resolution includes student lactation centers, day/infant care services, staff training, comprehensive sexual health education, and more.
In 2023:
● SCYEA, as part of the Police Free LAUSD Coalition, surveyed over 2,300 students across 100+ LAUSD schools. The purpose was to assess all students’ access to mental health and community-based safety resources, as well as the experiences of Black students in accessing resources from the Black Student Achievement Plan (BSAP).
This past summer, many of CoCo’s SCYEA youth leaders had the opportunity to participate in Community Coalition’s Youth Arts & Culture/Leadership Council during the Freedom Schools program. The programming combined a reading curriculum with political education, youth organizing training, and narrative strategy development. By offering a culturally relevant curriculum where young people see themselves reflected in lessons, literature, and leadership, CoCo is investing in the leadership pipeline while creating an affirming space that counterbalances the systemic inequities our youth often face in public schools.
“In just a few weeks, Freedom Schools staffers witnessed students grow in confidence, political awareness, and leadership, helping them on their journey of becoming creators and change agents for South Los Angeles,” said Glauz Diego, Senior Director of Programs at Community Coalition.