Northfield HCI

For Youth, By Youth

The Northfield YouthBank has been inexcusably silent during the past week. Silence speaks volumes, and we are deeply sorry for our inaction. The murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department is a horrific injustice that speaks to a much larger issue of deep-seated and oft-overlooked racism in America—an issue YouthBank must address.

Two of YouthBank’s core values are equity for all and youth empowerment. We strive to amplify the voices of all youth, but especially those who are underrepresented. All too often, black voices are silenced by a society built on a foundation of systemic racism. Black lives matter, and we stand in solidarity with the black community and with those who are advocating for justice. Dramatic changes must occur in order to build a better, more equitable society.

Racism doesn’t just disappear because people post about it for a week. We should all strive to advocate for racial equality and justice every day of our lives. In the coming days and weeks, we will be sharing links to resources, places to donate, and educational tools, as well as highlighting youth who are taking action. We will also be meeting to discuss how our organization can best use its resources to serve you. Please feel free to reach out with any feedback or recommendations.

YouthBank is an innovative youth philanthropy program in which a team of trained youth grant-makers award funds to youth-led projects that will improve the quality of life in Northfield.

Are you between the ages of 14 and 19 and have a project idea to make Northfield a better place for youth?

Northfield YouthBank is always looking for great ideas to help make our community a better place for youth.

The Grant application process is currently closed. It will reopen in May, 2020.

Criteria for YouthBank Grant Projects

• Be youth-led
• Serve the Northfield area
• Provide significant value for the money received

Grant awards can range from $800 up to $5,000. Each project is housed within a tax-exempt organization that acts as a fiscal agent.

Questions?

Send an email to northfieldyouthbank@gmail.com.

Or, learn about the initiatives that have received past YouthBank grants—for youth, by youth!