IYF’s 2024 UP for Change Leaders

Young leaders creating a more inclusive world: Meet IYF’s 2024 UP for Change Leaders

Despite being some of the world’s best problem solvers and social movement leaders, young people are systematically excluded from decision-making processes, including when it comes to designing and funding programs that are meant to benefit them. This Neurodiversity Celebration Week, IYF is excited to introduce the inaugural cohort of UP for Change (UP4C) Leaders, a national group of 16 young people ages 14-23 who will lead efforts to allocate $600,000 USD to expand funding to and awareness of best practices in programming for youth with learning differences. With 1 in 5 people being neurodiverse, it is crucial to expand intentional efforts to build more accessible and inclusive learning spaces. 

As IYF embarks on this youth-led participatory grantmaking project with support from Oak Foundation, we invite you to get to know our newest partners and follow along as we support them to design, manage, and learn from their grant fund. 

Get ready for a glimpse into the exciting journey ahead with the UP4C Leaders! Here's what we've uncovered from their inspiring bios.

UP4C Leaders Have Different Ideas About Priorities 

From ensuring that teachers responsible for creating individualized education programs (IEPs) have the proper training and resources, to destigmatizing neurodivergence and promoting economic mobility for neurodiverse individuals, there’s no shortage of ideas Leaders will be deliberating on and prioritizing together. Being able to identify the shared values that inform their priorities and guide their decision-making will be critical since Leaders are also motivated to participate for different reasons, whether it’s personal experience navigating unsupportive environments, passion for disability inclusion derived from a summer job, being inspired by a parent who is a special educator, or watching a sibling struggle to access the supports they need.   

UP4C Leaders Bring Valuable Skills and Experience to the Table

While the cohort will participate in a robust training program to ensure they have the skills and knowledge they need to be effective grantmakers, Leaders already possess a wealth of skills and wisdom that they have gained in different ways. Some have formal learning differences diagnoses and will lend valuable insights from their lived experiences. Others do not have a diagnosed or undiagnosed learning difference but have previous advocacy experience, are working in classrooms as one-on-one aides, or are enrolled in degree programs to prepare themselves for careers in special education. Beyond their specialized knowledge and passion for issues related to disability and education justice, all exhibit leadership through their participation in activities such as sports, Boy Scouts, and creative expression through music, art, cooking, photography, writing, content creation, gaming, or theater. IYF looks forward to drawing on these talents and complementing them with additional leadership and advocacy skills that can support Leaders’ career exposure and developing identities as advisors and advocates within their communities.   

UP4C Leaders Reflect the Populations they Care About, and That Matters

Understanding the ways identities intersect and combine to multiply exclusion or marginalization is key to participatory grantmaking since access to and decision-making power over resources fundamentally relates to power. Leaders come from diverse education and socioeconomic backgrounds and represent an array of racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation identities. The youth panel who reviewed applications for the program prioritized representation during the selection process, because we know it will lead to better funding decisions and more equitable results, and we are excited to support Leaders to explore and share the ways their unique perspectives can be superpowers for creating a more just world. 

As we stand alongside our UP4C Leaders, IYF recognizes and celebrates their diverse talents, potential, and power.  We look forward to partnering with them to pave the way for a brighter future—one where every young person can thrive. Join us in this empowering mission by getting to know our remarkable cohort of 16 Leaders below, and check out their full bios here: