Home Madison Feeding the Youth will take young people to March on Washington; now...

Feeding the Youth will take young people to March on Washington; now accepting applications

0

 

Feeding the Youth is now accepting applications from youth in Madison to join their trip to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington on August 28 and 29. This will be the organization’s second trip to D.C.

Feeding the Youth is an organization based in Madison that works to build a stronger, safer community for everyone regardless of race, color, and creed. Their goal is to come together to help lighten the load of those in need. 

The centerpiece of the application is a personal essay.

“The essay is just to express your feelings, your passions, your love for who you are, and why you want to be a part of what we’re doing,” said Founder and CEO of Feeding the Youth, Jazzman Brown. “We encourage people to be yourself in these essays. It’s not an essay.  We’re not looking for your whole life story. We just want to know why you want to go and why you want to be a part of this.”

Brown has already received applications from Black and brown youth. One applicant said their reason for attending the trip is to love the skin they’re in. Brown emphasized the importance of youth being aware of their feelings and that they need to have self-love even though they’re young. 

“It’s very empowering to have these young kids protesting and serving food on the steps of the White House,” said Brown. “Even if it’s something just so small, it can be something so empowering to all the little boys and girls who are in small-town America and don’t exactly know who they are. And don’t exactly love who they are. It’s very important for these kids to see that.”

Brown encourages youth 12-18 to apply for the trip. Eligibility does not require a history of activism. 

This trip and the work of Feeding the Youth is based on the value of community. 

“It’s a very communal experience,” said Brown. “We all work together. We prep the food together; we serve the food together. We protect the kids together and we march together. It’s very communal so it’s all about recognizing the struggle and being here to uplift the people in the moment.”

This is the organization’s second year in operation. Their work started last summer during the racial and civil uprising. They have traveled to other states to support protestors in the streets with food and medical supplies. There will also be a candlelight vigil at the March in D.C. to provide the young activists space to cater to their emotional and mental wellbeing.          

“We offer a safe space to be angry, to be upset, to be happy,” Brown said. “To feel whatever you feel that drives you to social justice. We offer a safe space for that. Then we play a tribute song and remind people that their feelings are validated. And it’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to be angry. It’s okay to be pissed off. That’s what brought you here and that’s what continues to motivate change.”

All the work done by Feeding the Youth is through donations and volunteers. You can support their work using your credit card or PayPal account, Venmo to @Jazzman-Brown-1, or Cash App at $ImpactDemand. They are also accepting essential supplies via their Amazon Wishlist.  

If you are between the ages of 12-18 and interested in this trip to D.C., visit https://www.feedingtheyouth.org/  and scroll to the bottom of the page to submit your application under the GET IN TOUCH section.