Safe Spaces Nurture and Validate Black Youth Voices

As a Community Engagement Coordinator in the non-profit sector, I have the incredible opportunity to support youth as young as nine and up to age 25. I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact of providing young people with the resources they need to create change within their personal lives, their families, and their communities. 

Nurturing youth voice is especially important to me because I believe youth have unique perspectives, interests, and personalities to share with the world. However, these qualities often remain hidden, without encouragement and reassurance. In my work with Black youth, I see how anti-Black racism and adultism can serve to silence young people or cause youth to internalize feelings of inadequacy. I deeply value youth perspectives, which often translates into the initiatives I participate in and the way I approach my work. 

Reflecting on my own adolescence, I remember shying away from allowing my sense of humour and personality to shine, and I saw my sensitivity as a weakness. I would worry about ‘storying’ myself in the most appealing way, finding myself preoccupied with how others perceived me. I’ve since learned the importance of leaning on the people I trust, who really helped me in building the confidence I needed to more authentically share myself with the world.    

I know, then, that creating pathways for Black youth to thrive involves nurturing their confidence, amplifying their voices, and validating their experiences. It’s about providing them with the support and resources they need and ensuring equitable access to those resources and opportunities.  

But what does this look like in practice?  

Last year, a young Black student, Christopher, joined our Youth Advisory Committee. Initially, he was very reserved and rarely spoke up during committee meetings. It was clear he had ideas but wasn’t comfortable sharing them with the group. 

We worked to create a safe and supportive environment for Christopher – and other youth – by consistently affirming the value of everyone’s contributions. Creating safe spaces where youth feel comfortable speaking up is crucial. Many young people hesitate to voice their opinions because they’ve never felt heard before. In our first meetings with the Youth Advisory Committee, we always emphasize the importance of mutual respect and active listening, and we ensure that every member knows their opinion is valuable and that their voice matters.  

During one meeting, we discussed a project aimed at increasing community engagement and participation. Christopher, usually quiet, finally shared his thoughts, suggesting that we create short, relatable videos to highlight community stories, focusing on both struggles and successes. His idea was innovative, different from the other suggestions that had been generated in the discussion. We worked on ways to implement his idea, first through the engagement project, then through our organizational communications strategy. Slowly, Christopher became more active in our group meetings – not only because he saw how his contributions were valued by the team, but also how they had a real impact on our work.  

When youth voices are appreciated and amplified, the results can be remarkable. By validating their contributions, we not only create a sense of belonging and empowerment for youth, but also encourage them to take on leadership roles and drive positive change – in ways both big and small.  

Our intentional approach to centering participants’ voices and experiences has made our youth committee a dynamic group space where every member feels empowered to contribute. In this way, we continue to help realize the untapped potential that lies within each youth we work with as they are given the right support and opportunities to flex their skills.  

Youth voice is powerful. Through my work, I hope to continue to build a future where every young person feels heard, valued, and empowered.