BLOOMINGTON, Ill. 鈥� Cloud Benn 鈥�25 was invited by the Colorado Aspen Institute to speak on a panel about their involvement in a New Orleans organization to uplift youth voices.
After graduating from an underfunded high school in New Orleans, Benn was drawn to become involved in the . The planning board's mission is to foster
collaboration among local stakeholders to assess the needs of children, youth and families across various areas 鈥� physical, social, emotional, developmental, behavioral, educational, safety, and poverty 鈥� and to support the creation of comprehensive community plans to address these needs.
Benn contributed to the organization鈥檚 , a multi-year initiative led by youth with the intent to identify solutions to unmet needs of young people in New Orleans through education, employment, health and community engagement.
鈥淭he plan emphasizes the importance of youth voice and participation in decision-making processes, recognizing young people as valuable contributors to their communities,鈥� said Benn.
The Youth Master Plan has introduced several impactful initiatives, including affordable and youth-friendly public transportation and mental health first aid training for local young adults.
These efforts led to The Aspen Institute offering Benn the opportunity to speak at the organization鈥檚 in Colorado on behalf of the NOLACYPBD and the Youth Master Plan.
Eager to explore opportunities beyond the IWU campus, Benn joined virtual meetings to prepare for the forum and made the trip to Colorado in October. The event featured several sessions focused on ways to empower the youth community.
Joined by other young changemakers at the Opportunity Youth Forum, Benn delivered remarks that encouraged young generations to 鈥渒eep pushing to make connections.鈥�
鈥淒oors will open and you will go places you鈥檝e never imagined,鈥� said Benn. 鈥淚鈥檓 now at IWU and I never knew I would be here. I thought I was going to go to a community college or HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) back in New Orleans.鈥�
Benn noted the diversity of the forum's audience, with guests of all ages and backgrounds from around the globe. The theme of the event focused on words like 鈥渂elonging, wellbeing, meaning and purpose.鈥�
That theme, said Benn, served as a reminder to youth that they deserve to have a seat at the table to have their voices heard.
鈥淏elonging, wellbeing, meaning and purpose actually got me to 91黑料专区 University because I felt as though I had a place where I belonged and could exist and continue the work I鈥檓 doing,鈥� said Benn, who is studying English - literature.
Benn hopes to continue amplifying the voices of youth, especially in New Orleans, with a goal to reduce gun violence, involve youth in more adult-led environments and to create more job opportunities.
鈥淣ew Orleans is a big city filled with many people who are of the youth community that have been impacted by laws but have not been able to say anything. We deserve a seat at a table and a mic to say 鈥榯his is what we think should be done鈥� and 鈥榯his is a solution we鈥檝e come up with to these problems,鈥欌�� said Benn.
After graduation, Benn plans to return home and eventually work in editing and publishing while continuing to serve the New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board. They also aim to start a youth organization for the queer community within New Orleans.