At YOTA, we are deeply committed to ensuring that our work is informed by and responsive to diverse and marginalized youth voices in the communities we serve.

Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy is designed to create an inclusive environment where all youth – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age, ability, or socioeconomic status – are empowered to participate in our initiatives and decision-making processes. Below are some key strategies and efforts we currently implement to fulfill this commitment:

1

Youth-Led Program Design: We prioritize involving local and marginalized youth in the design and implementation of our programs. We conduct participatory needs assessments and focus group discussions to ensure that their voices shape our projects from the outset. This co-design approach ensures that the specific needs, challenges, and perspectives of underrepresented groups are reflected in the solutions we develop.

2

Youth-Inclusive Representation in Leadership and Staffing: YOTA actively recruits staff, board members, and volunteers from diverse youth backgrounds, with a focus on those from the communities we serve. This diversity at all levels ensures that decisions are informed by a wide range of perspectives, particularly from youth who are historically marginalized.

3

Capacity Building and Empowerment: In our programming, we place a strong emphasis on empowering marginalized youth voices, providing training and resources that help build young people’s capacity to advocate for themselves. This ensures that they are not just passive beneficiaries of our work, but active contributors to their own development and broader development progress.

4

Ongoing DEI Training: We conduct regular training sessions for our staff, volunteers, and partners on issues related to unconscious bias, cultural competence, and equity. This helps ensure that our internal practices are inclusive and that our team is aware of and sensitive to the diverse experiences of the youth we work with.

5

Data-Driven Monitoring and Evaluation: We monitor and evaluate our programs through a DEI lens, using disaggregated data to assess the impact of our work on different youth demographics, particularly those that have been traditionally underserved. This allows us to continuously adapt and improve our efforts to ensure that no youth is left behind.

6

Youth-Inclusive Communication Practices: Our communications strategy ensures that our materials are accessible and culturally relevant to the youth we serve. This includes using multiple formats and platforms to reach diverse youth audiences. We also engage local influencers and community leaders to help disseminate information in ways that resonate with the communities of youth we serve.

7

Collaboration with Grassroots Youth-Led Organizations: We partner with local grassroots and community-based youth organizations, all of which are led by youth themselves. These partnerships ensure that we stay connected to the realities on the ground and that our work is aligned with the priorities and needs of the youth we serve.

8

Youth Advisory Councils and Stakeholder Engagement: To further integrate diverse perspectives in our programs, we have established youth advisory councils comprising representatives of marginalized youth. These councils provide ongoing feedback on our initiatives, ensuring that our programs remain relevant and responsive to the needs of those most affected.

Through these efforts, we aim to create a more equitable and inclusive impact, where all youth – especially those who have historically been excluded – have a voice in shaping their future.

We continuously strive to improve and adapt our DEI practices, knowing that true equity requires ongoing effort and reflection.