The mission of Youth Empowered is to cultivate young minds through unconventional learning opportunities.
Youth Empowered Inc. works with urban youth to reconnect with nature including activities like camping, hiking, bird watching and sailing.nearly six years ago, the group looked a bit different. In fact, the mission of the organization at that time was “totally different,” she said.
The original idea was to develop a dynamic generation of future leaders, “which I still hope to do.” At first she had 12 different programs that she planned to implement — none of those happened, however. “So I sat with myself and did some meditating and listening for the answers,” Lewis said, trying to figure out the future of Youth Empowered. “And then it just came to me, to do what I do with my children: to take them outside.” Lewis would regularly take walks with her three children to green spaces around their neighborhood, and they also started birdwatching. Then she started to notice that her kids’ attention span was better after spending time outside. And that’s when it clicked. The group started with walks, too. But it grew from there: They decided they would hike, bird watch, camp and even sail. “The goal wasn’t regattas,” Lewis said. “The goal was to get them on as many waterways and as many different boats as possible.” That’s when the team decided to revamp the mission to help cultivate young minds and teach youth through connecting to blue and green places. Youth Empowered has a day-long Explorer’s Program where it teaches students about STEM topics and Black history. It recently partnered with Conner Prairie to be able to expand its program and serve more children — as many as 600 next year.But that’s not the group’s only programming: Youth Empowered also takes a select group of students on a summer sailing trip. Students have to apply and go through additional training to take part in that trip, including swimming and CPR. Last year, the group went to Maryland. They went to the Patapsco River and sailed out with the Universal Sailing Club, which works to nurture a passion for sailing within the African American community. From there, the group spent the week visiting Black history museums and hiking parts of the Underground Railroad. They even visited a creek that is speculated to be part of the route. “Our children creekstomped while the elders sang songs,” Lewis said. “They were playing in a creek that our ancestors crossed on their journey to freedom.” Nathlie Harris said her daughter, Makena Gregory, who is part of Youth Empowered, has learned so much in the group and been exposed to incredible opportunities. She also has made many new friends. “I have lived in Indianapolis my whole life and didn’t know a sailing club existed until I heard about Youth Empowered,” Harris said. “How many parents can say my child has learned about sailing and Black sailors?” Harris said that Makena has always been reserved, but the mom has watched as her daughter has “come out of her shell.” She described Youth Empowered as a unique and special organization that is “breaking barriers.” Lewis said the organization works with middle schoolers because she believes that is a foundational time in a child’s trajectory to adulthood. She calls it preventative medicine. “If I can work with young people and give them skills and confidence and abilities,” Lewis said, “then we are already setting them on the right trajectory to be successful young people and young adults.”The mission of Youth Empowered is to cultivate young minds through unconventional learning opportunities. Our Explore program, which is hosted in partnership with the Indianapolis Sailing Club and Conner Prairie, reconnects urban youth with blue and green nature spaces, engaging in STEM and history studies on land and water. We also participate in culturally non-traditional outdoor recreation.In 2023, we have the potential to serve 600 youth through our Explore program, thanks to our new partnership with Conner Prairie.The majority of youth in our programming come from homes that are low-income. Yet, each of those children are worthy to participate in our programs. We need sponsors to support the 20 youth who will participate in our 3rd Explore summer trip. In the summer of 2021, we traveled to Chicago, and began learning to sail at the yacht club that has the highest number of Black sailors as members in the nation. In 2022, we traveled to Maryland, sailed with the Universal Sailors, a historic group of Black captains and sailors in the DMV, hiked parts of the Underground Railroad, and visited the United States Naval Academy. It gets bigger and better every year. This summer we have many options, but may travel to Detroit, sail to Belle Island and explore Motown; or, we may sail out of the historic port of New Orleans and explore the Louisiana Civil Rights trail.Youth Empowered welcomes volunteer mentors to help facilitate the Explorer’s program. Please contact the organization if you’re interested.The shared mission of IndyStar’s Our Children initiative and annual Season for Sharing campaign is to harness the power of journalism to make a difference in the lives of Central Indiana youth. We invite you to join us by making a financial contribution. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust will match donations dollar-for-dollar, up to $25,000. All charitable donations are tax-deductible. Funds raised during this year’s campaign will be distributed in early 2023 to organizations serving primarily Marion County youth and families. Go to to give online. If you prefer to send a check, please mail to: Central Indiana Community Foundation, Attn: Our Children, 615 N. Alabama St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204. You also can donate by texting “SHARING” to 80888.
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