SD Youth Activism

BACKGROUND

The idea of a youth platform sprouted during the early months of 2021. This growing youth collective is taking flight after teen advocate Elliott Morehead of Sioux Falls ignited the fire. As we bring together young passionate activists across the state, we will build a platform for South Dakotan youth to rise up and bring a better future.

With yesterday’s and today’s issues rooted in the oppression of Black and Brown peoples of America, SDYA wants to center the BIPOC youth activists in its vision of leadership and advocacy. Throughout history (waves of feminism, civil rights movement, reproductive rights advocacy, gay/trans liberation) the white majority and/or the most privileged were repeatedly represented at the top of each movement. In creating this coalition, we must not let the intersections of marginalized identities fall to the outskirts of our activism or allow white voices to overpower the stories, work, and voices of people of color. We won't stop fighting for an equitable world, an equitable South Dakota.