The Corner Stone of Our Work
Our Youth Leadership Development Program is the cornerstone of our work — the heart and foundation from which every NJFC initiative grows. This work was born right here in Holmes County, Mississippi, when our co-founders noticed young people on the streets during school hours and asked why. What they uncovered was the beginning of a crisis: students being pushed out of school and released from alternative schools with no plan, no support, and no adult guidance to help them transition back into the classroom. Instead of accepting that, we built what our community needed — safe, intentional, culturally-grounded spaces where young people could learn, lead, heal, and be protected from harm and criminalization. That early fight helped spark what the nation now calls the school-to-prison pipeline movement, but long before it had a name, we were already doing the work.
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Today, that legacy lives through our Youth Leadership Development Program, which houses all of our youth initiatives including Scholars of Peace, our girls programs, and our reading program. Our curriculum grows youth leaders from the inside out — building self-worth, emotional intelligence, organizing skills, political education, and community power. This summer, 75 youth participated in hands-on leadership workshops we designed to strengthen identity, purpose, and skills — including “What Is Leadership?”, leadership styles and team-building, conflict resolution, restorative justice, understanding civil and human rights, budgeting and real-world money management, the privilege walk, social justice explorations, hidden Black history, movement building, and NJFC’s own four-step organizing model: Investigate, Educate, Negotiate, Demonstrate. We played, learned, created media content, grew food, practiced healing circles, and built collective voice — not to keep young people busy, but to build young organizers, scholars, and advocates ready to transform their schools and communities. At NJFC, we believe every child deserves a high-quality education and the power to defend that right — and our youth leadership program continues to grow the next generation of powerful change-makers, one student and one summer at a time.
Empower. Educate. Transform.
Our youth leadership programs empower young people to see themselves as agents of change. Through workshops, organizing projects, and hands-on learning experiences, participants build confidence, critical thinking, and the courage to speak truth to power. We educate youth not just for personal success but for collective liberation — equipping them with the tools to lead movements, challenge injustice, and transform their communities from within.
Rooted in Justice, Growing in Power.
Everything we do is grounded in the lived experiences of rural Black youth in Mississippi. Our work connects young people to their history, culture, and community — teaching them that justice starts with knowing who you are and where you come from. From the garden to the classroom to the boardroom, our youth learn to organize, advocate, and grow into leaders who demand equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.
From Awareness to Action.
We believe knowledge means nothing without action. Our programs push youth beyond awareness toward leadership that drives real change. Whether facilitating peer discussions, organizing community events, or advocating for policy reform, our young people learn to turn their ideas into impact. They become informed, strategic, and fearless — shaping a future where their voices are heard and their vision leads the way.
