A statement from Fairfield County’s Community Foundation on youth advocacy

Whether it was the Children’s Crusade for civil rights in 1964 Birmingham; Ryan White’s campaign for HIV/AIDS awareness; or Malala Yousafzai’s international fight for girls’ education against an oppressive Taliban regime, children and young adults have a long, impactful history of social change.

Today, we stand with students around the country who are calling for reform and exercising their civic rights. We will continue to use our platform to amplify the voices of Fairfield County’s youth who are speaking up and out about gun violence and other critical issues and to support nonprofits like Bridgeport Generation Now, Center for Youth Leadership in Norwalk, and RYASAP (Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership) that strengthen civic engagement.

The world will be a better place because these young change makers are in it.

Juanita T. James
President & CEO
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation