The day after many honored the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and watched Donald Trump’s second inauguration, a different kind of gathering was happening in a church basement in Minneapolis. Despite freezing temperatures in the single digits, members of the East African Muslim community and Black/African American communities came together to chart the course for a brighter future for Minnesota’s youth.
It was midday on a Tuesday, and still the community showed up in force to launch “United 4 Youth,” a campaign by ISAIAH aimed at securing public funding for afterschool and youth programs across the state of Minnesota.
This effort is a testament to the power of community organizing and the recognition that, despite the odds, when people come together they have the ability to make meaningful, impactful change.
But how did this all come together, and why has there been so much energy behind it?
Acknowledging our agency
One of the driving forces behind “United 4 Youth” is the understanding that we all have agency. For many, this is a concept that’s often overlooked or undervalued. Agency isn’t just about making daily decisions, like picking a certain brand of cereal at the store. It’s about recognizing our capacity to influence real, substantial change in our communities. It’s the awareness that the conditions around us are not just passive elements of our existence; they were shaped by people, and they can be reshaped by us.
Whether it’s the lack of funding in schools, the rise in gun violence, the increasing cost of living, or the issue of inaccessible health care, we all have issues that weigh heavily on our hearts. And, over time, it can be easy to internalize the idea that nothing can be done about it — especially not by us. This mindset can lead to a sense of resignation, where we give up on the belief that change is possible.
But that’s not the truth. The story of change is still being written, and community members are leading the way.
Building power through collective action
“United 4 Youth” didn’t come to life by accident. It came about because people in the community recognized their agency and decided to take action. The Muslim Coalition of ISAIAH (MCI) and the Barbershop and Black Congregation Cooperative (BBCC), two key community groups, came together to focus on the issues they care most about — funding for youth programs being a priority for both.
However, recognizing personal agency isn’t enough to create widespread change. To truly make a difference, you need power. And power comes from both organized people and organized money. So, once the goal to secure state funding for youth programs was set, the BBCC core team began mapping out a strategy.
They identified the decision-makers, the potential obstacles, the allies, and the opposition. They also examined their existing power and what they would need to build to make it happen. This is where true power-building comes into play.
It’s about forging relationships with people who care about the cause, and sometimes that means merging efforts with other groups who share the same priorities. By combining their efforts, the BBCC and MCI were able to tap into a larger pool of wisdom, capacity and influence, making the campaign stronger than it would have been if each group acted alone.
A vision of shared leadership
At the launch event for “United 4 Youth,” leaders from both community groups hosted state legislators; members of the new Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families; and local municipal park staff. The event was designed to encourage dialogue, build connections, and strengthen the campaign. Leaders shared their personal stories about why funding for youth programs matters and facilitated discussions around how to move forward.
The key here is that the leaders who helped shape the event were not just passive participants. They took ownership of the process, facilitated panels, and set the stage for the next steps in the legislative campaign. This was a true exercise in shared leadership — community members stepped into their power, both individually and collectively, to push the campaign forward.
Reflecting on Black leadership
As we move into Black History Month, it’s a time to reflect on Black leadership, not only from the well-known figures we celebrate, but also from the countless unsung heroes who have played a pivotal role in advocating for Black communities. Leadership comes in many forms, and in the case of “United 4 Youth,” it came from everyday people who recognized the importance of organizing their community and leveraging their collective power to create change.
At the heart of this effort is a belief that change doesn’t happen passively — it requires action, strategy, and most importantly, the willingness to step into leadership. As we celebrate Black history, we must continue to recognize the power that exists in every community member, whether they’re working on a statewide campaign or organizing within their own neighborhoods.
We still have a lot of work to do. But as we move forward, we must continue to organize, empower, and amplify our voices. Together, we can build something better for our families, our children, and our communities.
So, wherever your passion lies — whether it’s in youth programming, affordable housing, health care, or something else — step into your leadership potential. The world needs more people who recognize their power, and that includes you.
ISAIAH is a multi-racial, state-wide, nonpartisan coalition of faith communities, Black barber shops, childcare centers, and other community based constituencies fighting for racial and economic justice in Minnesota. Brian Fullman is a lead organizer at ISAIAH and Faith in Minnesota. He organizes the Barbershop and Black Congregation Cooperative, a coalition of Black congregations and barbershops in Minnesota who are advancing a more just Minnesota for their communities.
For more information, visit isaiah@isaiahmn.org