Youth Leadership Institute is excited to tell you about two powerful young voices, graduates of last year’s YLI program – Malia and Sharena Johnson. Both have recently been published in the Huffington Post expressing their views on the challenges of race in today’s America.

Malia and Sharena are 15 year old twins, but when you read their words you can already tell that they have powerful voices individually with their own point of view and passion. Malia fiercely expresses the anger and frustration so many feel when they see story after unjust story in the news. Sharena, on the other hand, takes an equally passionate view of the stereotypes and assumptions that bring conflict between the Black community and the police to a fever pitch.

If this is what these girls are capable of expressing at this young age, we can only imagine what they will achieve as they develop their voice and step into their power.

You can read Malia’s Huffington Post essay here.

You can read Sharena’s Huffington Post essay here.