The Young People’s Project (YPP) was founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1996 by former Algebra Project students and current AP students at the Brinkley Middle School. YPP has grown in the spirit of the work of C.C. Bryant, Amzie Moore, Fannie Lou Hamer, June Johnson, Ella Baker, Bob Moses and many others and students from Jackson have inspired and supported the expansion of YPP to cities throughout the country.
As students have moved from middle to high school to college, the local program has expanded to include in school, after school, and community based components. In partnership and collaboration with a number of universities, local government entities and community-based organizations, YPP Jackson math literacy workers (MLWs) have provided direct services to over 1,500 students across 15 school, community, and faith-based sites over the last four years. Community and school-based partners have included: Jackson Public Schools, Lanier High School and its feeder schools, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Jackson Parks & Recreation, New Horizon Ministries, Inc., Voice of Calvary Ministries, YMCA, 100 Black Men, Boys & Girls Club, Operation Shoestring, and Action Communication and Education Reform, Inc (ACER) based in Duck Hill, MS.
Math Literacy Worker Training - Currently the Jackson site is conduct training for 10 college students. Training participants include former Lanier High School Algebra Project students.
Math Literacy Worker Outreach - YPP Jackson is preparing to implement the folowing activities -- MS Outreach - We have identified Duck hill, McComb, Grenada, Greenville, MS Delta, and Indianola as participating communities.
The Story Circle – The movement taught young civil rights workers the power of the meeting as an organizing tool. Through the story circle organizers and math literacy workers create a space for young people and community members to share their educational stories and experiences, build connections and community, and develop the meeting as a community asset. YPP organizers will travel the state of Mississippi collecting and documenting their empowering and disempowering educational stories and will use the story circle as a tool to help young people and communities discuss and organize around quality education.
Finding Our Folk – As a part of this national initiative, YPP Jackson will collaborate with a network of hurricane survivors, community organizers, grassroots organizations, and institutions throughout the southern region to launch tours originating in New Orleans and traveling to southern communities.
The Flagway Campaign - MLWs will be trained in the Flagway game and will conduct introductory workshops and host Flagway Tournaments throughout the state. Members will establish Flagway Leagues both locally and in select communities in Delta and Gulf Coast through partnerships with local and statewide organizations. Action Communication and Education Reform, Inc. and Southern Echo are two of our current partner organizations.
YPP and Dropout Prevention - YPP is interested in partnering with local communities and school districts in MS, to be part of a broader local initiative to work with young people who are at risk of dropping out. YPP strives to create a culture among young people centered on working for educational excellence, equity and social justice, and community change. By engaging young people in working directly address issues that affect them, and make change on behalf of their own education, YPP seeks to empower students on the bottom.
JACKSON Photo Galleries
YPP Jackson
350 W. Woodrow Wilson Dr.
Suite 3310
Jackson, MS 39213
(601) 987-0015
(601) 987-0021 [fax]
Contact Persons:
April Dortch or Albert Sykes