Young advocates, ages 15 to 25, who come together to pick the issues they care about, build solutions and take action.
The EYEJ Youth Council first convened in 2017 with 19 Cleveland youths who interviewed for and were accepted into the program. Members are trained in leadership, public speaking, media, organizing, research, teamwork, policy, program design and fundraising, with support from A Partnership for A Safer Cleveland and the Larry Doby Youth Fund through the Cleveland Indians.
Over the years, the Council has focused on three areas:
Youth and police relations: building trust and understanding between young people and the officers who serve them.
Voting: #ChangemakersVote, helping young people understand and take part in local elections.
The digital divide: making sure students could get online to learn during the pandemic.
PolicyResearch and recommendations to city, state and federal leaders
Voting#ChangemakersVote town halls and voter education
ResearchDigital divide and broadband access studies
Youth and police relations
In April 2018, the Council presented research, recommendations and personal stories to civic, sports and business leaders, including the Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Police. Their $140,000 proposal laid out practical ideas to help Cleveland youth succeed long term.
Senator Sherrod Brown invited the Council to Washington, DC in 2018. Members also met with State of Ohio officials and the Cleveland Browns, who hosted a private screening to celebrate their work.
#ChangemakersVote
Voting was a main focus of the Youth Council. Through #ChangemakersVote, young people learned how local elections work, why every vote counts, and how to make their voices heard.
Hosted the 2021 Youth Council Town Hall, where Cleveland youth shared their views on voting and heard directly from mayoral candidates.
Partnered with the League of Women Voters on voter education.
Connected youth with community and city leaders to talk about taking part in local decisions.
#ChangemakersVote is nonpartisan civic education. EYEJ does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party.
During the pandemic, many Cleveland students couldn’t get online for school. The Council stepped up: youth raised over $20,000 for the #Empower campaign to fund broadband research and student stipends, gave testimony and recommendations to policymakers, ran advocacy and letter-writing campaigns, and worked with partners such as McKinsey, PwC and Hyland Software. .
Impact & case studies
What the Youth Council has achieved
49
Youth Council members, every one graduating as a changemaker
7
Cleveland mayoral candidates interviewed by youth at the 2021 Town Hall
14+
local news appearances in summer 2018 alone
$20,000+
raised by youth for the #Empower campaign
Research & policy · 2017–2019
Research, policy and a seat at the table
The challenge
Youth wanted a real say on toxic stress, youth and police relations, and independent living skills.
What we did
19 members trained in research, public speaking and policy, then presented data, recommendations and a $140,000 proposal to civic, sports, business and police leaders.
The result
$20,000 in support, presentations to the U.S. Attorney's office and the Cleveland Police Commission, an invitation from Senator Sherrod Brown to Washington, D.C., and showcase videos with WKYC.
#ChangemakersVote · 2021
A youth-led town hall on voting
The challenge
Cleveland voter turnout had dropped by more than 20%, and young people were rarely asked what they needed from city leaders.
What we did
With the Millennial Task Force, the Council produced “End the Digital Divide through the Power of Voting”: youth testimonials, Cleveland Votes, Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates and the League of Women Voters, and youth interviewing seven mayoral candidates.
The result
105 attendees from foundations, universities, schools, banks and nonprofits, and continued youth engagement through the November election. Nonpartisan; no candidate was endorsed.
Digital divide research · 2020
Getting students online during the pandemic
The challenge
When school went virtual, many Cleveland households had no reliable high-speed internet.
What we did
About 30 high school and college students researched broadband access, gave testimony and recommendations to policymakers, ran letter-writing campaigns and hosted a town hall with city, school and nonprofit leaders.
The result
216 people joined the town hall, youth raised over $20,000, and the research led to a broadband map project with a Microsoft consultant.
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
Help the next Youth Council lead
Your support gives young advocates the training, mentors and opportunities to make the change they choose.
