Learning Together, Advocating Together, Changing the World Together

Teens Advocating Together, a joint program of the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP’s Youth Council and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council, provided teens, such as ourselves, an amazing opportunity to learn how to be advocates. This program connected two groups of teens who now share a passion for fighting injustice and allowed us to become better allies for the broader community.

As African American and Jewish teens, Teens Advocating Together showed us the importance of educating ourselves on social and political issues and advocating for ideas we are passionate about. We know the power of our voices and understand the changes we can achieve. As participants in the program, we had an incredible opportunity to lobby for pressing social issues such as mental health, law enforcement practices and gun violence to multiple Florida Senators and Representatives. One such bill, SB 836/HB 455, established an Urban Core Gun Violence Task Force and a Firearm Violence Reduction Pilot Program. After a discussion of our support for the bill with State Senator Lauren Book, she immediately co-sponsored it. This was extraordinary — rarely do legislators agree to instantly co-sponsor a bill due to lobbying in a meeting. It was an incredible moment that changed our perspectives on our role in society.

We realize the power we all hold. Influencing the world is possible, and we plan to continue to take an active role in social and political change. Self-advocacy is important so we can speak up for ourselves and our community. By staying aware of political events and social injustices in the world, we become more educated and ready to respond to create positive change. We will make an effort to remain strong and outspoken in our opinions and never ignore injustice.

Teens Advocating Together inspired us to be student leaders and activists. It allowed us to open up and share or express our feelings and ideas about pressing topics we face in society. Most importantly, it provided us the opportunity to connect with other like-minded teens across Miami and form long-lasting relationships that we all benefit from, now and in the future.

We are the voices of the next generation, the changemakers of a better future, role models for our communities and allies for our partners. Throughout history, we have seen groups become divided by their differences, but united we are a powerhouse. It is all about building bridges between minority groups in Miami; we know that we are stronger together.

We are proud to have taken part in Teens Advocating Together and we will continue to work toward influencing the minds of today for a more tolerant tomorrow.

Kiera Barton and Caroline Hartley

Teens Advocating Together Participants, 2020-2021