The Biden Foundation
New Release
Full Report of The Youth LEADS Initiative.
Download the Youth LEADS Recommendations One-Pager (PDF)
Youth LEADS (Leverage, Energize, and Define Solutions) is a Biden Foundation initiative to combat gender-based violence among youth by providing young leaders with the platforms, network, and organizational support they need to create change. Youth LEADS looks to young people to drive the solutions that will change the culture and end violence in their communities.
EMPOWERING YOUNG LEADERS
In 2018, the Youth LEADS team facilitated 15 listening sessions across the country to hear from young people with diverse backgrounds, recognizing the importance of incorporating perspectives that differed in race, geography, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, and other facets of identity that affect individuals’ experiences with violence and inequality, working directly with young leaders and organizational partners to:
- Identify trends that perpetuate cycles of violence
- Amplify the voices of youth within their communities
- Educate policy makers and stakeholders about the needs of youth
WHAT WE HEARD
Throughout the Youth LEADS project, we encountered inspiring young leaders who engage critically with the world around them, responding to the fast-moving political, news, and entertainment landscapes of 2018. From our conversations with young people, a clear picture emerged of the high levels of violence they live with and the rigid norms that still perpetuate cycles of violence.
Youth of color and other marginalized youth were acutely aware of the additional burden they carry because of how their race, level of ability, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity intersects with the violence in their lives. Overwhelmingly, youth saw themselves as key to changing the culture to end gender-based violence.
To learn more about Youth LEADS, contact YouthLEADS@bidenfoundation.org.