Young People For Progress
About
Our mission statement:
Young People for Progress (YPP) is an organization of young people, under age 35, that strives to build political power among youth and young adults in Montgomery County, Maryland and have them fully represented and participatory in our democracy in order to create a more just and equitable society.
Some of our long term goals include:
Increasing the political power of youth and young adults in Montgomery County.
Making tangible improvements to the lives of youth and young adults in Montgomery County.
Increasing civic participation and engagement among youth and young adults in Montgomery County
YPP was founded in 2019 with the goal of representing youth and young adults in Montgomery County. To ensure we were focusing on those voices, we conducted a survey to find out which social issues were most important to youth and young adults. It is vital, to us and to the county, that the progressive views of young people are heard.
Overwhelmingly, responses to our survey showed that Montgomery County needs to seriously change its policing. These responses were backed up by data; although people under 35 make up only 20% of the county's population, young people make up 60% of arrests. We are disproportionately affected by the police.
So, in response to the needs of our community, we began to focus on policing, and have been working around this issue ever since. Explore this page to learn more about YPP and what we do, as well as about the protest in Silver Spring on Tuesday 6/16/2020.
Interested in getting involved? Get in touch!
Contact
Links:
Instagram @ypforprogress
Twitter @YPforProgress
Facebook.com/mocoprog
Email us: [email protected]
Visit our website: youngpeopleforprogress.org
P O L I C E
I N C I D E N T
D O C U M E N T A T I O N
P R O J E C T
When we met with the County Council, we were met with denial of the issues with policing that exist here in Montgomery County. We know that some councilmembers have not had negative experiences with the police, and that this may inform their views. To remedy this, and to ensure accountability for our community, we began the Police Incident Documentation Project.
Transparency + accountability = systemic change.
In coalition with the Silver Spring Justice Coalition, YPP collects people's stories of negative experiences with police. Cataloging these encounters provides us with evidence that unjust policing DOES happen here.
We ask that you tell your friends, particularly those who have had negative experiences with the police, about the Police Incident Documentation Project. YPP and SSJC have trained individuals standing by to interview those who would like to share their stories. All names and personal information will be kept completely anonymous.
To share your story, email us or DM us on Facebook or Instagram. If you're interested in being an interviewer, let us know!
S A Y
T H E I R
N A M E S
The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and others, have sparked a call to action--and a unique political moment--across the nation. However, as a local organization, we want to ensure that the loss of those in our own community is not forgotten. In recent years, three Black men were murdered by police right here in Montgomery County, one as recently as May 2020. Their deaths may not have made national news, but they should nonetheless not be forgotten. We must say their names. We cannot and will not forget that Emmanuel, Robert, and Finan, as well as the countless others murdered in this country, were human beings with dreams and families and futures. Their lives matter.
Emmanuel Okutuga, age 26, killed in 2011
for "being at the shopping mall while Black"
Robert White, age 41, killed in 2018
for "strolling through his neighborhood while Black"
Finan Berhe, age 30, killed in 2020
for "having a mental breakdown in public while Black"
Black Lives Matter!
P R O T E S T 6/16
We will begin in the parking lot of the old Silver Spring Library building at 6pm. From there, we will march to Veterans Plaza, where members of our community will speak. We ask that you bring signs to the protest, though materials will be available to create your own sign starting 15 minutes before the march commences. Please sign in upon arrival, either at the old library or Veterans Plaza.
Social distancing is required at this protest. You must wear a face covering or mask. We will have hand sanitizer on site for general use.
OUR DEMANDS: Defund the police, stop police brutality, listen to youth and young adult voices.