Teen Leaders for Community Action

Community safety

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

This youth community needs to see more activism in action that is actually achievable. Increasing community safety, both physically and emotionally, is imperative.
With nearly 11,500 different Asian American hate incidents reported between 2020-2022 alone (Stop AAPI Hate report), there is no better time than now to create inclusive community safe/brave spaces that provide opportunities where teens can vulnerably share their own experiences, confidently stay active in their communities, AND experience meaningful representation in the form of role models, mentors and leaders.
A former participant said “... anybody who's interested in making a change in their community can benefit from Kizuna's program. In the program, it helps give a starting point as to what you can do, it opens your perspective and shows that even though you may be a high schooler, you can still make a difference. Anybody who is interested... in having their voice heard could benefit.”

Participants experience walking tours of Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Gardena to learn about the histories and challenges of these communities, especially in regards to community safety. Topics of discussion during these tours include preservation efforts of these ethnic enclaves, socio economic issues, affordable housing, tenants' rights, and community organizing. Using this knowledge and experience, participants are able to understand parallels in their own neighborhoods and feel confident in moving forward to affect change. Participants also engage with guest speaker workshops ranging from community activists, social advocates, and nonprofit organization leaders. The purpose of these workshops is to learn about civic engagement, the history of civil liberties injustices, and how to engage in community planning efforts to promote community safety.
With Kizuna, participants will explore their personal identity, learn more about community issues, and build lasting relationships with their like-minded peers. We believe that the 21st century skills of leadership, public speaking, critical thinking, ready our youth for a myriad of opportunities as they branch out into the world and leave with a greater understanding of their own power as activists.
At the conclusion of the 10-week program, teens will present their executed projects, including how they utilized their $1000 stipend, in a final evaluated culmination ceremony. Kizuna will support the sustainability of their projects.

Our program will focus on the issues around not just the prevention of harassment, discrimination, and violence but also the active promotion of belonging, inclusion, and peace.
Short-term Program Goals:
Draw parallels between different civil rights violations and community safety in different communities
Create a meaningful bank of projects that creates awareness, educates, and engages a new audience
Learn 21st Century Skills of Public Speaking, Critical Thinking, Analysis, Communication, Perseverance
Teens leave with a well defined sense of agency and empowerment: Long-term changes in LA County:
communities and ethnic enclaves within LA County will be more inclusive
the community will be physically safer and community members, especially the youth, will feel emotionally safer
youth will feel a sense of belonging to their community
youth will feel empowered to promote good change within and throughout LA County activist projects have sustainable longevity and measurable outcomes

2024 saw a 178% increase in applications. We also hired one of our participant teens from the first year to be an assistant instructor to the new cohort.
In 2024, we interviewed 73% of applicants and accepted less than 50% of all applicants. We became competitive and selective to heighten the value of our program.
We define and measure success of projects by:
assessing the quality, with emphasis on addressing community safety
analyzing audience reaction
evaluating the attainability and relevance planning the successful use of $1000 project stipend
participating in community events to promote and share projects
contacting and confirming new local speakers focusing on the subject of community safety
For long-term sustainability, we will measure:
the number of completed projects that we create year to year
estimate each project's reach (how many books sold, posters ordered, podcast views etc)
calculate the number of participants that begin the program vs. the number that "graduate"