Chinese Youth Organizing Project (CYOP)

In 2014, CYOP started its first 6-week summer program, which aims to develop youth to become individually, socially, and politically aware, exercise their voice and participate in active struggles for justice. Through the summer program, we create leaders who sustain, fight for, and give back to our communities. For five summers, groups of Chinese immigrants delved into issues that are facing the Chinese community, such as language access, the Keystone Exam, immigration and deportation, and school education resources. The youths became more aware of contemporary political and societal issues, such as gentrification, oppression, racism, stereotypes, gender inequality, and more. They have engaged the community by presenting their findings in community forums, such as the one last summer in Northeast Philadelphia centered around Know Your Rights and Deportation. 

This past summer, 26 youths interviewed 500 public school students and parents to uncover issues of school funding and resources in the School District of Philadelphia. Using their leadership, the youths constructed a report, published a WeChat article, and made a video, all of which showed that public school funding is inadequate and insufficient. Moreover, they created a petition and collected over 1,000 signatures to demand more school fundings and the ending of the 10 Year Abatement. Five of our youths presented the report and the signatures to City Councilwoman Helen Gym, Councilman David Oh, and Councilman Mark Squilla. 

CYOP provides a space for Chinese youths to speak their mother language, meet new friends, develop leadership and various skills, learn about what is affecting our communities, and talk about their stories. We also provide volunteering opportunities!