Mid-City Youth Council got first skatepark built in City Heights, now brings 1,000 young people to break school-to-prison pipeline
SAN DIEGO — More than a thousand 18- to 24-year-olds will participate in the biggest #YouthPowerSummit ever organized by Mid-City Community Advocacy Network and its partners on Oct. 22. (Mid-City CAN recently cut the ribbon on the Central Avenue Skate Plaza, the first skatepark in City Heights, which desperately needs more park space.)
The youth led summit is promoting restorative justice, which is more focused on addressing wrongs than punishing offenders. It is seeks to end the criminalization of youth – especially youth of color from low-income communities like City Heights – and stop punishments that set people on a course of life-long criminal behavior instead of giving them a true second chance to become healthy, productive adults. Other workshop topics will include youth rights and social justice.
One of the summit’s highlights will be special guest M1 of Dead Prez. Even those who don’t know the name have seen the Dead Prez’s impact. Kanye West famously said, “I am Dead Prez,” and the group provided the theme song to Chappelle’s Show. Other guests include racial-justice activist Nate Howard and undocumented trans activist Jennicet Gutierrez. Also set to disc jockey are Geena the Latina of iHeart Radio KHTS 93.3 FM, X-Man from XHRM 92.5 FM and Tre from XHTZ 90.3 FM.
The summit will feature interactive activities, speakers, and youth-led workshops. For more information call (619) 272-7582
The event is being led by youth and organized by Mid-City CAN and ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
It is supported by The Global Action Research Center, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, San Diego Youth Development Office, The California Endowment, Mental Health America, MAAC, and The Media Arts Collaborative Charter School.
