MISSION STATEMENT:
the mvmnt. empowers and uplifts underserved youth as a means to combat oppression, marginalization, and threats to their safety. To that end, the organization focuses on skill-building, civic and community engagement, arts education and the curation and facilitation of safe spaces for its constituents.
Save the Youth Project
Save the Youth Project
Launched Oct. 1st, 2024, the Save the Youth Project acts as a fundraising and recruitment initiative for the organization. This project will be used to introduce new events, programming, releases, and opportunities to fulfill graduation credits.
Meet the Interns
Are you an undergraduate student looking for graduation credits through a new and individualized approach to youth work? Now offered through Illinois State’s criminal justice department, the mvmnt. is accepting interns! Apply through the internship tab and read about our current interns helping to bring new projects to life.
Meet the Interns!
Secretary: Takia Thompson
Media and Marketing: Fiker Endalcachew
Put the Whole City On Pt. II
REDEAUX
“REDEAUX is dedicated to creating a transparent network. of fashion minded individuals who wish to uplift human kind. Our goal is to put the whole city on.
Put the Whole City On Pt. II
To help raise funds for the events and programming put on through the Save the Youth Project, the mvmnt. has worked in collaboration to with REDEAUX to release Put the Whole City On Pt. II.
A continuation of the 2021 release of Put the Whole City On, part 2 represents a collaborative effort to extend resources, open the closed doors to creative expression, and pour into the future art makers and fashion enthusiasts of the world. By offering local youth the opportunity to create an art piece that will be the focal point of the mvmnt.’s special members tee in this collection, REDEAUX takes a successful leap at bringing their vision statement to life.
Trippy Flowers by Itzy P.
-Contest Winner-
Trippy Flowers, submitted by Itzy Pagza, was selected to be the inspiration behind the mvmnt.’s special members tee for PTWCO Pt. II.
“The inspiration behind this design comes from my grandmother. I know that she loves flowers, but I also remember she used to draw eyes when I was younger. When I would ask why eyes were the constant theme of her artwork she said because the eyes are the window to the soul.”
Trippy Flowers is now available for purchase at redeauxclothing.com
Upcoming Events
Date & Time: Saturday, October 26th 2-5p
Location: 1101 S. Desplaines St. Chicago, IL
Unzipped: The State of Fashion
A networking event for the city featuring real talk with Chicago’s leading fashion community. We’re talking needed resources, convening, and creative spaces in Chicago.
Join us on Saturday, Oct 26th to meet the panelists Des Owes, Anicea and Sal Lee.
This event will also serve as the first pop up for Itzy’s tee Trippy Flowers. They will be available for pre-orders throughout the event for all attendees.
Date & Time: Tuesday, October 29th 6-9p
Location: Chicago State University
Uncensored
Calling artists of all kinds! In collaboration with the Nu Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, the mvmnt. will be hosting its very first “uncensored” open mic night. Providing all artists and performers with a platform to be openly expressive, this event allows students to come as they are, displaying their talents in its most raw form.
Accepting clothing donations now until Nov. 19th.
Thanksgiving Day of Service: Spring cleaning: Fall edition
Family and friends, please assist us in providing common clothing necessities to those in need this season. While all clothing items, excluding undergarments, are accepted and greatly appreciated we will be looking mostly for the following items in any size
Winter coats
Thermals
Hats
Gloves
Scarfs
Long sleeve shirts
Jeans
Regular t-shirts
Business attire
Socks (preferably unworn)
Snow boots
Owt n About: Santa’s Helpers
The Soulful Scholar’s Society
Lil Lambs Membership
Jade Griffin
Executive Director
Jade Griffin started the mvmnt. to give Illinois State University students an opportunity to stand up for what is right and sit down to discuss the issues. The organization was originally organized campus-based events and discussions about inequities so students could step outside their mindsets and stand to understand differing opinions. In the last year, the mvmnt. has begun extending its reach to encompass underserved youth in the Chicago area; aiming to give these individuals a voice, advancement opportunities, and a safe space to discuss the issues most important to them.
Jade has received her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Science from Illinois State University. She is a Youth Care Worker at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, as well as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Whitney Mittons
Director of Programming
Whitney is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion practitioner with seven years of experience in Higher Education and Student Affairs.
Mittons holds a Bachelors Degree in Sociology from Illinois State University and a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership form Olivet Nazarene University. Whitney Mittons is passionate about building bridges with others to pursue an anti-racist and liberated future for all.
David Lane
Board Member
David C. Lane is an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois State University. Rutgers University Press recently released his monograph, “The Other End of the Needle: Continuity and Change among Tattoo Workers.” Broadly, David’s research focuses on tattoo work, labor, and the changes to cultural production in capitalist systems, crime in relation to natural hazards, art theft, and constructionist approaches to social problems. His worked has been cited in Deviant Behavior and the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
David is on the Nominations Committee of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, is a member of the Justice 21 Committee, and also serves as the Chair of the Body Art and Images area of the Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association.
David holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Delaware. In his free time, he enjoys getting tattooed, and hanging around people who are engaged in solving the problems that affect us.
Ryland Watts
Treasurer
Ryland attended school at Illinois State University graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting and Business Information Systems. His is aiming to sit for his CPA exam within the next year. He is working as an Audit & Assurance Agent for Deloitte & Touché LLC.
Furthermore, he is a member of the Illinois Army National Guard. Ryland joined the movement to better the progression of minorities and to change generational curses that surround minorities.
Board of Directors
