Youth Advisory Council Participates in Erase the Space

The 16-member Youth Council reconvened in September and has been focused on conducting business ever since. They’ve entertained presentations from organizations tackling tough issues like human trafficking, disparities in school districts, and they have been funding programs that are addressing concerns facing their peers throughout the City. 

One issue presented by Erase the Space, made such an impact it spurred the members to action. They unanimously expressed an interest in participating in a written exchange program during the 23/24 academic year with the Columbus Youth Council and students in the Ubuntu Leadership Program. “I think this program is a great opportunity not only for education, but as an exercise in how to have civil discussions centering around hard topics”, says Reeve R., a member of the Council since 2022. The exchange is designed to foster collaborative, non-competitive dialogue between students from different backgrounds with different life experiences.

Throughout this school year, Youth Council members will write letters, communicate online, and ultimately meet in-person. In June, they will meet face-to-face with their counterparts during a leadership summit where they will have the opportunity to plan, collaborate and execute on a legislative issue in Ohio.

Erase the Space serves to bridge the divide between disparate communities across the city andfosters the idea of a larger community. Participation in Erase the Space will develop skills forCMA Foundation’s Youth Council to have authentic discourse on problems facing their community and be better prepared to take on the most pressing social challenges and issues facing our city (and nation) with empathy and collaboration.

Interested in supporting the continued growth and leadership of our future community leaders? Visit www.cmafohio.org.