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EYEJ empowers young advocates to make the change they choose

EYEJ youth activities and community gatherings

Mission & Background

EYEJ was founded in Cleveland in 2013 by Mai Moore, with the late June Antoine and members of Plymouth Church, UCC, after a conversation about the tragic death of Trayvon Martin. Their vision is the same today: give young people a louder voice on the issues that shape their lives. We connect youth with local leaders, mentors and each other so they can lead change in their communities, in policy, at the ballot box and through programs they create.

EYEJ continues to make an enormous difference. Through the devoted work of volunteers, donors, and staff, its keynote programs are affecting the lives of thousands and creating or planting the seeds for change all across the Cleveland community.

Our programs: YDJ: Youth Discussing Justice and YODJ: Youth Discussing Justice Online build confidence, conflict-resolution and money skills and strengthen trust between youth and adults. The EYEJ Youth Council has led work on youth and police relations, voting through #ChangemakersVote, and the digital divide. EYEJ Speaks connects youth with community voices. The Millennial Task Force brings young professionals into fundraising, marketing and partnerships.

Impact & case studies

The difference young advocates make

2,000+

young people served across Greater Cleveland since 2013

1,400+

adult volunteers who have stood beside them

80%+

of youth say discussions helped them outside of school

20,000+

views of the EYEJ Speaks series

YDJ · EYEJ case study, 2019

From one pilot classroom to a citywide program

The challenge
In 2013, middle schoolers had few places to talk with caring adults about the things shaping their daily lives.
What we did
EYEJ piloted monthly discussions for grades 6–8 at one Cleveland school, then built a Curriculum Committee, a standard session format (classroom rules, a mindfulness moment, real-life stories, reflection) and student and teacher surveys after every session.
The result
Within five and a half years, the program had reached 1,000 young people in 11 schools and institutions with more than 450 trained volunteers, and kept growing from there.

YDJ & YODJ

Confidence and new skills in the classroom

The challenge
Students rarely get a structured space to talk through conflict, money and the issues shaping their lives.
What we did
Trained volunteers led monthly, research-based discussions with grades 6–8 in 17 public schools and four recreation centers.
The result
Most students said it was their first time exploring these topics, 73% said the series helped them, and more than 80% used what they learned outside school.

Online discussion pilot · EYEJ case study, 2018

Taking the conversation online

The challenge
Good classroom conversations ended when the bell rang.
What we did
EYEJ tested an online discussion platform with a group of students: a short in-class conversation, then continued dialogue online, followed by a survey.
The result
100% of students said it felt like a safe, open place to share their thoughts, and no student said they wouldn't use it again. The pilot shaped YODJ: Youth Discussing Justice Online.

EYEJ Speaks

Putting youth voices in front of a wider audience

The challenge
Community conversations about youth issues often happen without young people at the table.
What we did
In June 2020 EYEJ launched a speaker series on Facebook Live, pairing young people with educators, leaders and business voices. It grew from 8 to 10 weeks.
The result
More than 20,000 views and 72,000 social impressions, with viewers as far as New York, California and Maryland.

From EYEJ's own case studies, program summaries, event reports and participant surveys, 2013–2022.

Supported by

  • The George Gund Foundation
  • Tegna Foundation
  • Larry Doby Youth Fund (Cleveland Guardians)
  • A Partnership for a Safer Cleveland
  • T-Mobile for Education
  • PwC
  • Lubrizol
  • Dominion Energy
  • Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland
  • Greater Cleveland Partnership
  • Cleveland State University
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Gallagher Sharp LLP
  • Common Ground
  • Socialsuite
  • Ulmer & Berne LLP
  • ThirdSpace Action Lab

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YDJ: Youth Discussing Justice program

Through this carefully designed and research-based monthly program, 6-12 graders from 27 public schools plus 5 recreation centers meet regularly with trained professionals to engage on a wide array of relevant topics, including mental wellness, conflict resolution, civil rights, and personal finance. On average, a majority emerge feeling “passionate” about the subjects, and 78 percent of participants say they developed skills to make improvements in their lives in and out of school.

Through this carefully designed and research-based monthly program, teenagers from 17 public schools and recreation centers meet regularly with trained professionals to engage on a wide array of relevant topics including toxic stress, conflict resolution, civil rights, and personal finance. On average, a majority emerge feeling “passionate” about the subjects, and 78 percent of participants say they develop skills to make improvements in their lives in and out of school.

I’ve taken what we’ve talked about and applied [it] to how I live
JUNIOR
MC2 STEM HIGH SCHOOL
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Young people at a community gathering
EYEJ youth discussion and creative activities
EYEJ Youth Council program

First convened in 2017, this group of young people continues to brainstorm solutions to the challenges Cleveland’s youth face every day. Its members, trained in critical thinking and public speaking, have achieved notable successes in raising funds, presenting to community leaders, and attracting local media coverage. Youth Council members are well informed on Cleveland’s social policy issues and leverage research insights to speak to their advocacy work and local community organizing efforts.

The Council’s focus during the COVID-19 pandemic is bridging the “Digital Divide,” helping minority families gain access to the high-speed internet needed to attend school and compete on the job market. Its members spent hundreds of hours on that task in 2020 and now aspire to raise $20,000 in an “Empower” campaign to improve research and propose solutions on broadband accessibility.

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EYEJ Speaks series

EYEJ Speaks started as a 10-week speaker series launched on Facebook Live in June 2020. The panel-style format features thought-leaders, academic professionals, corporate representatives, and various activists talking with young people about the issues that matter most in Cleveland today.

The program’s first season generated more than 20,000 total Facebook Live views from June to September 2020 and over 72,000 social media impressions across three channels! Fifty-nine percent of viewers are from Ohio, although the program had strong viewership from California and New York.

EYEJ Speaks episode flyerEYEJ Speaks episode flyerEYEJ Speaks episode flyerEYEJ Speaks episode flyer

Through this carefully designed and research-based monthly program, teenagers from 17 public schools and recreation centers meet regularly with trained professionals to engage on a wide array of relevant topics including toxic stress, conflict resolution, civil rights, and personal finance. On average, a majority emerge feeling “passionate” about the subjects, and 78 percent of participants say they develop skills to make improvements in their lives in and out of school.

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EYEJ participants leading a discussion
EYEJ community advocacy activities
EYEJ Millennial Task Force

The EYEJ Millennial Task Force is a group of young professionals from diverse backgrounds who seek to have a positive impact on Cleveland’s youth. It coordinates directly with other EYEJ operations such as Youth Discussing Justice (YDJ) and EYEJ’s Connectivity Initiative to inform fundraising efforts, marketing campaigns, and other strategic initiatives and partnerships with the unique perspective and voice of the Millennial generation.

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