Please oh pretty please Like & re-blog this to the point you have parts of it memorized! lol
Our Story
Hello and thank you for taking the time to view this post!
Before I introduce you to the company, I’d like to introduce you to myself so you have confidence that I have crafted the methodology and beliefs of Young People of Color Inc. with an expertise only lived experiences can provide. My name is Tajh Sutton and I am the Founder and President of Young People of Color Incorporated. I am a young woman of color myself, being of Afro-Caribbean descent. I have worked in the public school system for 6 years as a tutor, peer mentor and an activity specialist in step and dance instruction for various elementary, middle and high schools.
In doing so I have learned the value of the performing arts as a creative outlet for our youth and how they can be used as a tool to instill discipline, work ethic and dedication, which can and must be applied in the classroom. I currently work as a step instructor for the Step-in-Schools Foundation. I am an Education Major at Brooklyn College with a concentration in English and a member of the Brooklyn College Student Union. Thanks to fantastic Professors and political activity I have come to truly realize the worth and dare I say, NECESSITY of a critically thinking and questioning mind as well as the confidence to turn those thoughts into ACTION. From these experiences and my belief in being the change you’d like to see in the world- Young People of Color Inc. was born!
Young People of Color Incorporated is a grassroots company based out of Brooklyn, New York that is Dedicated to the acknowledgement, advancement, and achievement of young people of color; a celebration of urban accomplishment in education, activism, writing, fashion and the performing arts- meant to improve the quality of life of all young people of color, to inform, encourage and to set a positive example while acknowledging the individuality, opinions and preferences of the large and diverse group that makes up our youth with a magnifying glass as opposed to a disapproving glance. We are not here to teach you the answers; we would like to show you how to question- using the written word, the performance arts, deep discussion and the power of the World Wide Web to encourage, inform and uplift in the hopes that young people of color will be able to make decisions that reflect well on themselves, their families, their communities and Black culture across the Diaspora.
The Impact
What We Need
The Short List:
We need promotional materials, incorporation filing fees, capital to rent venues for seminars and events, and equipment for video and audio recording in order to keep YPCTV (Young People of Color TV current as well as to document our own awesomeness =)
The Long List:
Incorporating in the state of New York: $278
Trademarking the business name ‘Young People of Color Incorporated’: $149
Press Kit: $250
Literature (Flyers, Business cards & Information Pamphlets): $150
Merchandise (T-shirts & Wrist Bands): $1,380.16
2 Piece Mic Set: $50
Cam Corder: $500
Laptop: $1,000
Software for video editing: $1,000
Tripod: $150
This adds up to $3,907.16
That is a large number for most of us, but there is power in OUR numbers and we can raise that money by the time this campaign is up!
Note *** If for some reason, Young People of Color Incorporated should incur less financial strain than it anticipates, the remainder of our funds raised by this campaign will be safe guarded in what I like to call ‘The People’s Pocket’, meaning it will stay in the Young People of Color account once these basic needs are met and be used for purposes related ONLY to the business transactions of Young People of Color Incorporated. ***
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you cannot donate to the YPoC campaign at this time there are lots of other ways you can help the movement grow and become as powerful as we know it has the potential to be!
The easiest and quickest way to promote in the name of Young People of Color is to help us build our social network- since the internet is one of the main stays of the program and one of the key ways we intend to draw in youth. Here’s a short list of ways you can help out without spending a dime.
1. Like us on Facebook:
Use the Link below to like the Young People of Color Incorporated fb fan page and tag it in a status so your friends can see what an awesome thing you just did. Encourage them to do the same! And don’t forget to show love in the form of a Wall post as well! We love hearing from supporters.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Young-People-of-Color-Incorporated/147655592015771
2. Follow us on Tumblr:
Use the Link below to Follow and be sure to re-blog the YPoC mission statement. The more you like and reblog YPoC posts, the more people find out about what an awesome project we’re working on, which will compel more people to get involved, and most importantly to help us fund-raise!
http://youngpeopleofcolorinc.tumblr.com/
3. Follow us on Twitter:
Use the Link below to Follow and be sure to add us to a tweet with the hash-tag #YPoC and the twitter @YoungPplofColor
https://twitter.com/#!/youngpplofcolor
4. Blog or Make a YouTube Video about Young People of Color Inc.
Whether you get 100,000 hits a week, or 10 hits a month, any and all support is appreciated by YPoC.
5. Create your own fundraiser for Young People of Color Inc.
How easy would it be to ask your favorite Professor if you could put a link on the board at the end of class and direct your schoolmates to Young People of Color on Facebook, Tumblr or twitter? How about holding a fundraiser for a club or team you already belong to and donating some of the proceeds to YPoC? Thinking like this, the possibilities are endless, and we need all open hearts and minds to promote promote promote!
6. Create your own promotional material for Young People of Color Inc.
Do you draw? Are you a graphics designer or writer? Do you love to create? If so, creating a piece of artwork, a logo, a pamphlet, business card or flyer for Young People of Color should be a cinch! Not only will it expand your craft but it will do a huge service to a great cause. If you go this route be sure to email us so we can see. Who knows. You may become the mind behind the Young People of Color logo!
7. Participate in the YPoC photo challenge contest!!
*We are currently holding our first contest! The YPoC photo challenge!*
All it entails is that you take a photo of yourself holding a sign that shows you support YPoC and emailing it to youngpeopleofcolorinc@gmail.com
Each week a favorite will be chosen and made the profile photo for our various social networking sites as well as added to our facebook fan page album, our twitpic album and will most likely become our tumblr avatar =]
Here are some sign suggestions:
I Support Young People of Color Inc!
I <3 YPoC
Young People of Color Incorporated
I am [insert ethnicity here] and I Support YPoC
I Donated [Insert donation amount here] to Young People of Color Inc.
YPoC Rocks!
And anything else you can dream up =)
It’s a bit hard for folks to donate to the cause the way they want to, if at all, and we understand, but we still need to know they we aren’t alone in believing we can successfully start and maintain this business with the intention of having a direct effect on the lives of as many young people of color as possible, and as a result, having a direct effect on the status quo.
Participating in the YPoC Photo Challenge Described above is a fun, interactive and absolutely FREE way to show your love and support for not only YPoC Inc. but for actual youth of color. Supporting this movement means supporting them and THEY ARE OUR FUTURE so I hope you can take 5 minutes out of the day to make a quick sign to hold up before you upload your next cute outfit photo or hair flick =P
As lovers of all things youth and PoC related, we love to hear from like-minded individuals and see what’s going on with you. Yes YOU. YPoC has a genuine interest in it’s fellow man and a huge stake in the future of young people of color. We want to see your coolest outfit. Your talent show performance. Your report card. Your debate team match. Your step show. Your footage from the protest. Your cover of that new Beyonce joint. We want it all! Share your features everywhere online and be sure to mention Young People of Color!
You can submit by emailing youngpeopleofcolorinc@gmail.com
8. Like the Young People of Color Incorporated Campaign Page on indeigogo.com!
http://www.indiegogo.com/Young-People-of-Color-Incorporated
All you have to do is log in with your facebook account and click the like tab on the bottom left hand corner of the campaign photo. This will get the word out about the campaign.
9. Comment on the Young People of Color Campaign Page on indiegogo.com!
I mean … if you’re there already, you might as well =P Seriously, we need the reassurance folks. A friendly word from a couple supporters a day goes a long way when taking on such a daunting task!
Young People of Color Incorporated thanks you for your time and consideration and looks forward to your support in making it’s aim to “give young people of color the tools they need to build the future they deserve” a reality.
Peace,
Tajh Sutton
Founder of Young People of Color Incorporated
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xoxo
