Two Indianola teenagers are concerned that young people are being overlooked, causing them to feel apathetic about sharing their ideas.
That’s why Jaden Farrow and Jayla Sibley are making strides to transform the presupposed opinions and their community.
“I feel like youth voices are not heard enough and what we’ve got to say they don’t take into consideration, and I just want the youth to stand out,” Farrow said.
And that is the premise upon which he and Sibley founded their “Get Inspired” movement.
It is their hope that the youth of Indianola will join in and lift up a voice for change. They are out to make a change in their school and community.
Sibley said she wants to motivate the youth and let them know their voice should be heard and that anything is possible.
“I see youth being led down the wrong road and if they see other youth being involved in the community, you know, being positive, then hopefully they will want to become a part and help make the change.”
To bring their self-conceived notion to fruition they invited the Gentry High Honor Society to partner with them to initially establish six safe zones, spaces where youth can go to share ideas and thoughts with the consciousness that someone cares enough to listen.
Theon James, a member of the Gentry Honor Society, said, “I feel like the youth in Indianola just need a push, and that’s what this program does, is give us an opportunity to do more things.”
Adult coordinator Marilyn James said, “This was their first idea, and they are hoping the community will get behind them and support them.”
She said the Indianola Promise Community has offered some support, but she doesn’t know to what extent as of yet.
With the hope of a new high school far beyond their reach, the group of forward-thinking students sought to improve the environments in which they spend a major portion of their day.
Farrow and Sibley met with students from the honor society on July 27 in an organizational session to get the ball rolling. They want something created by young people for young people.
Initially they will gather in the spaces once a month to develop and share ideas as an organized group but other students will be able to freely use the space to help generate ideas as well.
Gentry Honor Society Student Chasity Campbell is already sharing ideas; she wants each space to have a “Get Inspired Box,” a place where people can place their ideas.
“We may not be out there at all times, so they can just write little notes and put them in the box,” she said.
James said she is taking a hands-off approach and allowing the students to develop their concept on their own.
“They’ve worked really hard. I am really proud of them and I am excited to see if during this school year, these spaces get developed, (and) if they’ll have an administration that will actually partner with them because it’s going to be the voice of the kids now, not adults asking.”
The students are designing the spaces themselves and are not trying to do anything elaborate but want something practical and durable.
If you would like to support the children, you can do so by contacting James, Derrick Williams or donating to the Indianola Youth Council-Get Inspired Project; a special fund has been set up.
Farrow and Sibley attended the InspirED Roadshow, Inspired Youth Engagement and Leadership Lab in Atlanta in May, which was catalyst for their inspiration.
