Service Academy’s Post

“They just need someone to give them a voice.” I’ve heard this phrase countless times in advocacy spaces, and every time, it stops me. Not only because it’s wrong, but because it misses a deeper truth: people already have voices—they’re just too often ignored. At SBNC, we don’t aim to be a “voice for the voiceless.” Instead, we work to amplify the voices of students who are already leading the way. From advocating for food assistance to pushing for systemic change, these student leaders don’t need someone to speak for them—they need systems and spaces that value what they have to say. True advocacy isn’t about taking center stage; it’s about clearing the path for others. By investing in leadership, honoring lived experiences, and making room for diverse perspectives, we build solutions that are not just effective but deeply equitable. What are some ways you’ve seen this kind of leadership in action? Let’s continue the conversation about listening, empowering, and learning from those who are already leading change. #HigherEducation #StudentAffairs #StudentSuccess #CivicEngagement #SocialImpact #Philanthropy

“Everywhere you go, you need a mentor” — Nathifa Forde, NYC Her Future Founding Executive Director. Here at NYC Her Future, we take pride in championing and elevating programs dedicated to providing mentorship, access to funding, and job training to young women and girls of color in New York City. Last Thursday, during the State of The City Address, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to expand mentorship and engagement programs for youth and we couldn’t agree more! Take a listen as our founding executive director shares her personal mentorship journey with young women at Seeds of Fortune Inc. College Prep Leadership Event. 🩷🧡💛 #SOTC25 #MayorAdams #NationalMentorshipMonth #SeedsOfFortune Sideya Sherman Natalia Diaz Fatima D. NYC Mayor's Office of Equity & Racial Justice Office of the Mayor of New York City

At Youth Ambassador Fellowship, we are committed to empowering young leaders with the skills and opportunities to make a meaningful impact. Our key objectives include: 1. Youth Empowerment: To equip young people with the leadership skills, knowledge, and resources they need to become active agents of change. 2. Global Collaboration: To foster cross-cultural exchange and collaboration among youth across the world to address global challenges. 3. SDG Advocacy: To inspire and support youth-led initiatives that contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 4. Mentorship & Development: To provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for youth to grow as impactful leaders. 5. Community Engagement: To engage youth in community-based projects that promote social justice, environmental sustainability, and equality. Together, we are building a network of young changemakers dedicated to creating a sustainable and inclusive future. #YouthAmbassadorFellowship #ObjectivesForChange #YouthEmpowerment #SDGs #GlobalImpact #LeadershipDevelopment #YouthForChange

It is always inspiring when your staff has opportunities to grow and help your business expand its impact. So, we are sharing great news about one of our child advocates. The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) recently chose Christy Nunley to take part in its second annual Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship. She will join thirty-five other exceptional Indiana youth workers of color who are involved in the cohort, which starts in January. The program is part of the Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project. That collaborative statewide program focuses on ‘caring for those who serve our kids.’ More specifically, it serves youth development professionals employed with community-based agencies, such as Child Advocates, that support the educational, social, emotional, and physical development of Indiana youth aged five to 18. 👉And the program also helps ensure that youth organizations increase and sustain progress toward being welcoming and inclusive workplaces and closing equity gaps in leadership.  Christy and other professionals working with youth will participate in an intensive six-month training and development series designed to enhance leadership capabilities and provide opportunities to cultivate robust community networks. Christy said, “I am excited and grateful for the opportunity being provided by Indiana Youth Institute. I believe it will be an opportunity to grow and advance my skills as a leader. I look forward to learning different approaches and techniques that will help further develop and enhance my ability to be a successful leader.” Our CEO, Phyllis Armstrong, said, "It's wonderful that IYI’s Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project awarded Christy with this leadership training and development opportunity. She has dedicated her career to serving youth. Her participation in the cohort will enhance Christy’s leadership." Learn more about IYI's next Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship coming up in 2025 and how and when to apply here: https://bit.ly/3ViFtJy #leadership #diversity #equity #inclusion #dei #fellowship #growth #opportunity #nonprofit #youth #youthworkers

Did You Know? 🤔 📌 1.5 million students in the U.S. are identified as experiencing homelessness under McKinney-Vento programs. 📌 Foster care youth are 2.5x more likely to drop out of high school than their peers. 📌 Schools with mentorship and trauma-informed leadership programs see a 25% boost in academic performance! 💡 Want to make an impact? Let’s talk about creating equitable opportunities for these students. Together, we can change the stats. 🌟 👉 Drop a 💬 below or DM me to learn more!

Youth-serving organizations almost always emphasize cultivating leadership skills, but how often are those youth empowered to be the architects of their own vision when putting those skills into practice? How often are youth set to work executing a vision that adults have already created, on their behalf? Kate Lord and Janae Phillips of She's the First, a global organization that teams up with grassroots leaders to make sure girls are educated, respected, and heard, share what they’ve learned from making the leap into youth-led advocacy campaigns: 💡Commit to living in a girl’s world (you work for them) 💡Be prepared to go BIG 💡Embrace (and trust) big feelings 💡Work to translate your jargon 💡Give permission to fail Learn how your organization can yield decision-making power to the youth you work with 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYsK9gDU

🚨 ONE WEEK LEFT!! To join us at the "Bridging the Gap: Addressing Disadvantage in Education" Conference! 🚨 📅 Date: Friday, January 24, 2025 📍 Location: Aston Villa Football Club, Trinity Road Entrance, Villa Park, Birmingham ⏰ Time: 9:15 AM arrival for a 9:30 AM start | Concludes at 4:00 PM 🎟️ Sign Up Here: https://lnkd.in/eY_qetmf Join headteachers, senior leaders, and educational experts for an impactful day exploring ways to tackle educational inequity. ⭐ Key Highlights: Hear from influential speakers like, Fair Education Alliance), Matt Bromley (Matt Bromley Education Enterprises), and Sean Harris FCCT Harris (PLACE). Learn practical strategies to address poverty and educational disadvantage. Collaborate with peers to shape sustainable, poverty-sensitive policies in schools. Hear from our panel Yalinie Vigneswaran from Ambition Institute, Karl Edwards from Teach First, Sally Burtonshaw from @Policyfirst and Tom Campbell from E-ACT about what is working right now and red flags to look out for in your pupil premium strategy. Network over lunch (provided) and gain actionable insights for your school or organisation. 💡 Whether you're a leader in education or passionate about addressing inequality, this is a conference you won’t want to miss. Secure your spot today and be part of the solution! #ThinkBig #DoTheRightThing #TeamSpirit #EducationalEquity #LeadershipInEducation

Leadership matters. Let’s continue the important work of fostering diverse, inclusive, and equitable boardrooms. As a BoardSource board member, I am excited to share: Awareness to Action: A Guide for Boards and Chief Executives on a Racial Equity Journey. This powerful resource is designed to support nonprofit leaders in centering racial equity within their organizations. Whether your board is just starting out or is actively embedding equity into its work, this guide offers practical steps and frameworks to advance the journey. Learn more about this essential resource and join the conversation about creating lasting change in our sector. https://lnkd.in/gce7d-zE #NonprofitLeadership #RacialEquity #BoardGovernance #DiversityAndInclusion #SocialImpact

📣 Apply by tomorrow, 6/26, for "Leading with Race Equity: Building a Stronger Culture and Practice"! 🌟 This initiative, crafted in partnership with True North EDI, offers a four-month peer cohort learning experience designed specifically for foundation leaders looking to foster racial equity effectively within their organizations. The program will help you: 💡 Understand key concepts like implicit bias and structural racism. ⚙ Develop tools to counteract racial bias. 🔎 Refine grantmaking and operational strategies to ensure equitable outcomes. This is more than training—it’s a transformational journey for your entire team, empowering you to make impactful changes internally and in the communities you serve. 👉 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eG4Z_3Py #RacialEquity #SocialJustice #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityImpact

Summer is here! For children, it's a season for play and exploration...two things we could all use more of, don't you agree?  Check out "Inclusion Through Play" - a new workshop from Inclusive Kind that fosters learning and growth through the concept of playing. In a rapidly evolving world, the need for inclusion has never been more apparent. Traditional approaches to fostering inclusive behaviours have fallen short, leaving us with an intention-action gap. Our solution, the "Inclusion Through Play" workshop, addresses this gap through Guided Play, a science-based learning model that ensures essential leadership soft skills are not only understood, but applied, in the context of each participant’s work setting. https://lnkd.in/gDc-ETN6