The 2025 Community & Youth Organizing event series highlighted the transformative power of youth-led movements. Curated and hosted by Lumumba Bandele, a professor in the CUNY SPS Youth Studies program, the series featured two compelling films on youth-driven activism and for the final segment, a live panel discussion with young activists advocating for economic justice in New York City. Held virtually over three consecutive Wednesdays in January, each two-hour session provided an opportunity for attendees to connect, reflect, and engage with crucial social issues.
‘Whose Streets?’ Film Screening and Discussion
Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
The event series began with a screening of “Whose Streets?”, a documentary that offers an unflinching look at the Ferguson, Missouri uprising following the killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. The film is told by activists and leaders who experience the movement firsthand, which depicts grief, long-standing racial tensions, and renewed calls for justice. Young community members emerge as leaders, guiding a new wave of resistance.
During the discussion, Professor Lumumba Bandele asked, “What are some of the lessons that were lifted up in this documentary for you in terms of what we can learn from Ferguson?” One participant responded, “It reminds you how well propaganda works.”
The discussion also addressed the mysterious deaths of several Ferguson organizers. Professor Bandele adds that “A few other lessons we learned is that a few of the Ferguson organizers and leaders were mysteriously killed in separate incidents after the uprising,” emphasizing that “these things are not coincidences.”
Another key takeaway was the need for growth and sustainability in movements. Professor Bandele states, “The following year, in 2015, the Movement for Black Lives was formed. The primary organizations that supported Ferguson realized that when they pulled together different components of what was needed and created this week of support, we had to sustain this.”
Professor Bandele stressed the importance of understanding language in activism, pointing out that calls for calm often overshadow calls for justice. He challenged attendees to reflect on their roles in activism, asking, “We need to figure out what our role is. Particularly those who are educators, right? Particularly those of you who work as youth counselors or whatever. There were countless walkouts, student-organized actions! What is going to be your relationship to those moments? How will you respond both as an individual who understands the nature of what is happening but also as a staff member of whatever agency you work? How will you navigate those particular dynamics?”
‘Following Harry’: Film Screening and Discussion
Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
The second event featured “Following Harry”, an intimate documentary chronicling the final twelve years of musician, actor, and civil rights leader Harry Belafonte’s life. The film showcases his deep commitment to justice and his mentorship of the next generation of artists and activists.
“This film is a charge, this film is a mandate, this film carries the message of Mr. B, and we are fortunate to have with us one of the people who received the message, who continues to move in this particular vein,” stated Professor Bandele.
During the discussion, Professor Bandele introduced guest speaker Rod Starz, who had been personally mentored by Belafonte. Starz shared his experience of being invited by Belafonte after returning from Ferguson, recalling, “When Harry Belafonte calls you, you’ve gotta show up.”
Professor Bandele asked, “Can you talk a little bit about some of the most significant lessons you learned from him?” Starz responded, “I learned to channel my passion in a way that was more effective rather than emotional, you know what I’m saying?…And I feel like I have learned to observe more, be a better listener, but also [we’re] coming of age.”
During a Q&A session, Starz reflected on the wisdom he gained from Belafonte, emphasizing the importance of channeling passion into effective action. He advised youth educators, “Listen to young people’s ideas. Too often, we impose what we think will work rather than guiding and supporting them.”
Youth Organizing for Economic Justice: Panel Discussion
Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
The final event of the series, “Youth Organizing for Economic Justice: Panel Discussion,” included members of the NYC Youth Agenda Coalition, the NYC Union of Students, and youth advocacy collective YouthNPower. The conversation centered on economic justice and the increasing unaffordability of New York City for young adults. Panelists shared policy recommendations and ongoing advocacy efforts in areas such as housing, transportation, employment, and food access. Key themes the panelists discussed were higher education accessibility and funding, youth empowerment and organizing, participatory action research (PAR), care and basic income support, social justice and equity, community and solidarity.
Rachel Parsley from the NYC Union of Students spoke about the history of free tuition at CUNY, stating, “CUNY was once completely free. But when Black and Brown New Yorkers gained greater access to higher education, tuition was introduced during the 1975 financial crisis.” She called for increased funding for public education and for private universities to contribute resources to the city.
Latroya Lovell, an SPS alumna, emphasized the importance of youth voices in activism, saying, “To allow youth that space to blossom into—we need these young people…their opinions and ideas, their thoughts are important and it is what is going to shape the next phase of how our government looks, what our policies look like, what our advocacy efforts look like, whatever research looks like, what organizing looks like.”
Denice Ocana, a member of YouthNPower, discussed the need for basic income support for young adults aging out of foster care. “For the past two years, what we have been doing is exploring, documenting, and uplifting the needs, desires, and vision that young people who are transitioning out of foster care as young adults living in New York City,” she explained. Ocana emphasized the role of PAR, stating, “What this basically is, is the statement that we have carried with us throughout the pilot, which is ‘Nothing about us without us.’ All of our research comes from their experience.”
The 2025 Community & Youth Organizing Event Series provided an in-depth exploration of activism, economic justice, and youth empowerment. Through powerful documentaries and critical discussions, attendees gained insight into the resilience of youth-led movements and the ongoing fight for racial, gender, and economic equity. The event reinforced the importance of community engagement, solidarity, and sustained activism in addressing systemic challenges. As young leaders continue to advocate for change, the lessons from this series will undoubtedly shape future efforts in social justice movements.
