Community Coalition activates young people to get involved and help drive local issue-based campaigns, ensuring the voices of young people are heard when it comes to identifying and addressing harmful conditions in our communities. South Central Youth Empowered thru Action (SCYEA—pronounced “say-yeah”) is a group of African-American and Latino youth working together to improve the conditions of South Los Angeles and their schools. Based on CoCo’s community organizing model, SCYEA is develops future leaders and promotes academic success. Across a collective of dedicated youth spaces—High School Organizing Chapters (HSOCs), leadership councils, and SCYEA Base meetings—SCYEA leaders take the lead in facilitating meetings with their peers, frequently discuss important youth perspectives with decision-makers, and play central roles during community events and political actions.
Academics & Wellness
Through SCYEA, youth are provided a host of academic and wellness supports to help them do well in school and develop the mental fortitude needed to navigate stressful challenges in life and find healthy joys. We offer vital support such as academic counseling, tutoring, college prep workshops, college tours, wellness circles, and youth-centered mental health and wellness workshops. Since 2011, Community Coalition has partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund to host and run Freedom Schools during the summer, exposing students to culturally relevant curricula that highlight Black and Brown authors to showcase stories that are reflective of youths’ identities and experiences to accelerate the literacy learning process and retention.
Leadership Development
SCYEA youth are encouraged to assert their ideas, learn new skills, and put them into practice. They are equipped with a deep understanding of the history of Black and Brown communities in South LA, the social and political systems that govern our communities, and ways to build power through community organizing and collective action. The program also provides arts and enrichment activities for young people and their families to heal within their own community, including youth art councils, cultural art exhibits, South LA bike tours, field trips, and social outings.