Farajii R. Muhammad

2006

Farajii R. Muhammad

Youth Empowerment Movement

http://www.yembaltimore.org

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Education & Youth Leadership

The Bold Idea:

The Youth Empowerment Movement (YEM) challenges traditional youth programming by getting young people more deeply involved in leadership roles and the community problem-solving process. Young people benefit tremendously by being able to see themselves in leadership roles and bring a needed and fresh perspective to critical community issues. Nowhere is youth perspective and energy needed more than in Baltimore City where so many young people are at risk. The educational system has failed the children of Baltimore, evidenced by the more than 50 percent of ninth graders and 11 percent of high school seniors who drop out. Increasing numbers of young people are also entering the juvenile justice system and lack meaningful ways to participate in society.

Biography:

A son of Baltimore, Farajii has dedicated nearly a decade of his life to working with youth in his community. He co-founded his first youth development group at age 19 and currently hosts a news radio show that focuses on the concerns of young Baltimoreans. He received his Associate’s degree from Baltimore City Community College as well as his BS in Mass Communication and Public Relations from Towson University in May 2006.

Moment of Obligation: Why did you want to create your new organization?
The Youth Empowerment Movement is an initiative that comes out of my desire to see young people be a part of the leadership in Baltimore. I’m not seeing enough young men and women in decision-making positions, and if they are in those positions, they don’t have any power. They’re not empowered to be effective, rather they are there to be used like a poster, we see them on the outside but they aren’t being heard and taken seriously on the inside. Our hope is that YEM will change this dynamic.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to take on deeply entrenched social problems?
I believe that my experiences, talents, and skills have given me the ability to take on heavy social issues. I’m drawn to this work. It’s in me to make an impact socially because this is what I enjoy doing and this is what I do well. Over the past 10 years, I have organized national youth conferences, citywide town hall meetings, a debate forum, and leadership trainings. I have also branched out into the media to make folks aware of the significant contributions of young people by starting a youth radio show that is making an impact on the social, political, and educational landscape of this city. I think big because that’s the only way to think when you are talking about mobilizing, organizing, and activating any group, especially young people, my generation.

New and Untested: Describe what’s innovative about your new work.
What makes YEM so innovative is the fact that young people are the decision-makers. We are in positions where we are deciding about issues affecting us. We are involved in the identifying, planning, organizing, and problem-solving. Our input is entrenched throughout this whole process so what we develop is a true representation of the desires of young people. Our organization is innovative because it gives us an opportunity to not only be seen, but also heard, loud and clear. As we organize around the city of Baltimore and the State of Maryland, more young people are gaining knowledge of their leadership potential. The Youth Empowerment Movement activates disengaged youth, and gets them engaged in the process of leadership development and decision-making.

Seeing Possibilities: What do you believe are the most important qualities to do social change work?
I think that anyone who is interested in social change work should have a vision about what to accomplish. The person should have a picture in their minds about the goal(s) they want to reach. Also, the person needs to be driven. You can’t accept “no” for an answer. You can’t allow people to take you off your path to do what they want to do. This kind of work requires you to be focused and, in some ways, selfish. You have to be all about the work, mentally. If not, you will lose your focus, which allows other people to determine your fate, instead of you paving your own way.

Which musical artists/albums get you going?
I enjoy listening to hip-hop music, which really gets me going. My favorite hip-hop artists are Common, Mos Def, Jay-Z, Nas, Talib Kweli, and Dead Prez. These artists are very intelligent, creative, strong, positive, and most importantly they know how to move the crowd. I also like listening to smooth jazz, which helps me to relax my mind and think clearly.

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?
The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson, and How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?

• www.blackamericaweb.com
• www.usatoday.com
• www.nllc.org
• www.yembaltimore.org
• www.baltimoresun.com

Any last words, thoughts or advice to other social change leaders?
Giving your time, energy, and effort to an idea that is bigger than you is a great form of service. In this day and time, there aren’t a lot of people who are willing sacrifice a part of themselves to better the lives of others. However, little do most people know that when you serve others, in reality you are serving yourself because service requires the manifestation of the best qualities within someone. I believe that we are created to be servants, not slaves. The difference between the two is that a slave gives all and receives nothing, a servant gives all and receives something greater in return. It may not always be money or material things, but it is the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped to improve the condition of another human being. There are a lot of people who are afraid or unwilling to serve because they have a limited view of what a servant is. This is unfortunate because in reality, the one who serves well is the one who leads best.