Envisioning Our Liberation: Youth Forums for Advocacy, Kinship, & Storytelling

In partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Program, StoryArk’s Youth Executive Board (YEB) will host a series of three youth-centered forums during the 2025–2026 academic year. These gatherings will bring together high school youth, college students, and their affiliated pronode/2726grams and organizations to build relationships, engage in meaningful dialogue, navigate challenging experiences, and collaborate on storytelling-based advocacy to amplify youth voices to inspire change. Rooted in Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, the forums will empower participants to reflect critically, engage in collective action, and explore storytelling—including podcasting, creative writing, and visual arts—as a powerful tool for social justice.

This initiative aims to cultivate youth leadership, foster cross-community collaboration, and create a brave, inclusive space for addressing systemic inequities. The culminating exhibition will showcase the creative projects and insights developed throughout the year. Hosted at the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub, this residency will amplify youth voices and strengthen connections between high school youth, university students, and community groups, ensuring that young people are equipped—and supported—to lead change in their communities.