At the same time, we support those youth in building skills that increase their individual and collective sense of power, wellbeing and material circumstances.

We recognize that many of the challenges facing Black youth are rooted in institutional systems that reinforce racial disparities in incarceration, school discipline, academic outcomes, and employment. These systemic inequities were further exposed by the May 2025 tornado, which magnified the disproportionate vulnerability of historically marginalized communities across the region.

Inspired by the insights culled from AFSC’s Pulse Check Community Survey and Focus Group, our program operates at both the systemic and individual level. We amplify youth voices in decision-making spaces, build coalitions rooted in abolitionist values, advocate for restorative alternatives, and provide direct support to youth. This includes peer mediation training, self-regulation skills, and education in organizing and campaign development.

Together, these strategies reduce reliance on punitive systems and foster investment in healing, justice, and community-rooted alternatives.

Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light of each person, AFSC works with people of all faiths and backgrounds to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace.