What Is the Year Round Mobilization Model?

 

In 2018, CDYR moved into a new year-round mobilization model for the first time. Young people who went through the retreat wanted to continue to build on the momentum, ideas, and relationships built from the retreat, continue to plug in, and put what we gained into action. For the first time, CDYR participants from the 2018 retreat were brought back together for multiple reconvenings during the school year to build off of the retreat.


Month in Kashmir Action Grant preparations during spring reconvening. March 2020.

Month in Kashmir Action Grant preparations during spring reconvening. March 2020.

Action Grants

Action grants are an opportunity for cohort members to create projects that align with CDYR’s mission to combat racial, social, and economic inequity within their communities. With funding and support from the collective, cohort members stay engaged throughout the year with a variety of unique projects. Our lovely cohort members have collaborated on some amazing community projects in past few years that are spotlighted below.

Action Grant Spotlight

  • Misha Gandhi (she/her)

    Art by Misha (@art.by_misha on IG)

    Soon to be a high school senior, Misha joined CDYR in 2020 during the virtual retreat. Currently she is working with the CDYR communications committee! With the CDYR action grant, she was able to launch a small business called Art by Misha where all proceeds go to I Grow Chicago and her schools dance marathon chapter.

  • Meghana (she/her)

    #CopsOutCPS Campaign

    A 2020 youth cohort member, Meghana, has been heavily focused on the #CopsOutCPS campaign to remove SRO’s from schools, with KINETIC, and Pilsen Alliance. Meghana used the action grant to create racial healing circles + meetings where CPS youth can talk about their experiences/emotions with cops in schools. She is a rising junior at Lane Tech and is excited to be part of CDYR.

  • Month In Kashmir

    CDYR x SWK

    Youth from multiple cohorts collaborated to create Month in Kashmir. The month would include events such as an art build, teach-in, and art auction. These events were planned as a way to be in solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir and support their right to self-determination by raising funds. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events did not take place. In August of 2021, CDYR held an event called Independence For Whom? in collaboration with Stand With Kashmir as a continuation of this action grant .