Youth in Charge: One Young Hoosier's Journey to Become an Advocate

Today we hear from Rachel, a VOICES Youth Policy Fellow about how local Hoosier youth are engaging directly with lawmakers, proposing and promoting legislation and program expansion.

In seventh grade, I learned about human trafficking in the fashion industry. After stumbling upon images of collapsed garment factories adorned with anti-suicide nets and corpses of child laborers, I knew I needed to be an advocate. I researched about forced abortions, passport theft, and deaths caused by poor workplace safety measures. I was enraged at the foundational exploitation that worked for the comfort of my community. For the first time in my life, I truly felt compelled to fight for a cause and end the dehumanization that producers face at the hands of consumers. To start, I abstained from supporting unethical retailers based on labor policies relating to safety, minimum wage, and benefits. Yet, I wanted my actions to be far more impactful. An opportunity presented itself right here at home in Indiana: the VOICES YES Fellows, an eight-week development program for Hoosiers aged 14 -23 to learn how to communicate your personal story to state leaders in the hopes of improving state programs for youth and families. I found that despite the challenges I faced on my journey to becoming an advocate, I have found the opportunity I've been looking for to educate others and create change.

Up until this year, I had pursued my passion for anti-trafficking advocacy by writing. I wrote letters to several fashion brands, inquiring about anti-trafficking efforts in the supply chain and sustainability measures. I then wrote to the federal government about company transparency and auditing processes. Fearing judgement, I was reluctant to directly present to others due to my shyness. That soon changed however, changing my sense of self and setting me on a lifelong path to be an advocate for myself and for my community.

What is YES?

In the summer of 2020, I learned about YES--or the Youth Summit Leadership Fellowship--from a juvenile justice organizer in my community. As a YES Fellow, I have the opportunity to share my stories with Indiana youth and collaborate on policy change. I applied into the program with the goal to eradicate trafficking and I was accepted. For the first few weeks, we focused on sharing our life stories. My peers’s experiences encouraged me to use storytelling, a powerful and memorable way to spark change, in my advocacy journey. I also learned about the importance of working with others to gain new perspectives and practiced compromising, something I had never considered during my time of solo advocacy.

As a YES Fellow, we organized into issue-based groups relating to our passions. My passion for the eradication of trafficking led me to the Educational and Economic Inequity Group. With varying personal causes ranging from mental health to support for foster youth, it was difficult to mesh our ideas into measurable, unified proposals. Inspired by two group members in particular, I emerged as the leader of our circle. I decided to leverage my skill in listening to create a cohesive plan, while simultaneously encouraging my group members to speak about their personal causes of choice at an October Summit where we could connect directly with Hoosier lawmakers and public officials.

Preparing for the summit helped me grow as an individual. I honed my research skills and learned about agricultural and domestic workers, groups often excluded from labor laws. I learned to seek input from each member rather than making all of the decisions alone. Furthermore, I learned that I needed to further my research on trafficking in various industries, especially during this pandemic. I also learned to communicate with all types of policymakers, ranging from members of the city council to senators.

What we are asking of Hoosier lawmakers

My YES cohort's first major proposal urged for the requirement of personal finance class in Indiana high schools. Forty percent of our group had undergone personal experiences relating to financial issues. We agreed that a class that taught about credit, debit, taxes, and college alternatives would benefit students who would otherwise not receive that financial education. We researched and found similar actions from other states to support our call to action.

Our second major proposal called for the implementation of the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights and the Fairness for Farm Workers Act. Both bills would set minimum wage requirements and overtime pay for related professions, with the former providing more comprehensive benefits such as protections against discrimination and days of rest. Domestic and agricultural sectors have been excluded from labor laws since the 1930s. After I presented my findings to my group, we agreed to make this a priority in our presentation.

The last two proposals of our presentation were mental health resources for Indiana high schools and stipends for independent youths. We determined that financial and emotional resources can help students overcome the greatest barrier to success: poverty. Four members in particular shared personal stories, strengthening our message.

What getting involved has meant to me

I never imagined how much I would change as a person, just from an eight-week program. I made new friends and connections, raised awareness about an issue, and became a more vocal individual. This opportunity taught me that change does occur from the bottom up. Our generation is passionate and loud about injustice and reform, and I am grateful to be part of a group dedicated to change. I will continue to fight for the voiceless in different sectors. YES Fellows has taught me to be a learner, a leader, and a pioneer.

Rachel Nyarkoah Labi is a YES Fellow and high school senior in Indiana. Her passion for the eradication of labor trafficking has inspired her to work towards a business administration degree to later become a nonprofit executive. Rachel has pursued her business education through camps, courses, and internships. In addition to her business endeavors, she also deeply values community service. In October 2020, Rachel joined 15 other YES Fellows as presenters at a Youth Policy Summit co-hosted by VOICES and the Commission on Improving the Status of Children in Indiana.

Do you know of a youth-led policy program we should learn more about? Tweet @mollygmartin and share using the hashtag #YouthAmerica.

Do you want to learn how to develop or grow a program in your hometown? Reach out to Kia Wells at VOICES at kwells@voicescorp.org.