May 29
YCA Statement on Community Accountability: January 7, 2019
We believe survivors.
It is from this belief in their accounts and experiences of violence that Young Chicago Authors,
as an organization, strives to engage in a survivor-centered process.
YCA understands that it has a responsibility to take action to prevent sexual harassment and
violence. We are committed to creating ongoing professional development for staff and
trainings about issues relating to sexual violence. We have the utmost respect for the work of
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, Rape Victims Advocates and A Long Walk Home, with
whom we will continue to partner to access invaluable knowledge and experience in this work.
Through these partnerships, YCA has integrated leadership models, codes of conduct, and
trauma-informed practices into its daily work and will continue to build on that work.
We value the survivors’ needs. We value their desire to enter into a process of community
accountability or to opt out.
We have engaged in this process several times and in different ways over the past six years.
Sparked by a series of allegations of sexual violence we received about a long-time artistic
collaborator of YCA 6 years ago and compounded by allegations about other artists affiliated
with YCA, we began developing processes to find a way forward for survivors and the accused.
Paramount is the privacy of survivors; this effort is focused on their needs.
YCA’s internal process, when we receive allegations of harassment or violence, is to suspend
professional ties with individuals accused, request that those individuals not attend YCA spaces, and
conduct an internal investigation to gather information. Gathering information informs the next steps
in our process, which has and could involve any number of outcomes from implementing internal
restorative frameworks to severing ties with the accused for the long term. This process is imperfect
and we are committed to continued learning including having better and more transparent external
communications.Our intention to create safe spaces for young people to develop their writing and
artistic craft and provide a platform to share their stories is an ongoing process fundamental to YCA’s
mission. We are committed to continued learning and training to develop the structures and
supports that hold space in the safest ways. We will continue to take measures to address
instances of violations when we become aware of them. We will be holding spaces for young
people, artists and educators to convene and share ways to create a culture of violence
prevention and will be announcing dates in the coming weeks.
If you have information about instances of sexual violence within the YCA community, or have
questions about our process we sincerely encourage you to contact YCA Executive Director
Rebecca Hunter at rebecca@youngchicagoauthors.org.
YCA IN THE NEWS
Luis Carranza connects with BOTY youth through the art of spoken word
The Gate News, May 29, 2018
Meet Chicago’s First National Youth Poet Laureate
Chicago Magazine, May 29, 2018
Nappy Talk’: How Chicago hip-hop artist Matt Muse expresses individuality and embraces blackness in his lyrics
Chicago Tribune, May 29, 2018
Rick Kogan chats with Matt Muse and Dominique James of Young Chicago Authors
WGN Radio, May 29, 2018
Young Chicago Authors Is a Safe Space for Black Youths
The Root, May 29, 2018
Taking a tour of Chicago with Eve Ewing
RedEye Chicago, May 29, 2018
Chicago rapper Matt Muse grows the way he wants to with Nappy Talk
Chicago Reader, May 17, 2018
Femdot’s ‘Chicago experiences’ lead him to debut LP, and Lollapalooza
Chicago Tribune, May 15, 2018
On having compassion towards your rough drafts
The Creative Independent, May 14, 2018
The Chicago Poetry Block Party Is a Can’t-Miss Literary Event
Chicago Magazine, May 11, 2018
How Can You Deny Jamila Woods’ Greatness?
Third Coast Review, May 9, 2018
Jamila Woods teams up with Louder Than a Bomb founder Kevin Coval for new 7-inch single
Consequence of Sound, May 9, 2018
Matt Muse goes the self-love route on his latest, ‘Nappy Talk’
Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2018
Poetry offers a different sound at Pitchfork Music Fest with Louder Than A Bomb, Black Girl Magic
Chicago Tribune, May 9, 2018
Write253 Instills a Love of Writing in Students
SouthSound Talk, May 7, 2018
VIDEO: Chicago Artist You Should Know: 2018 National Youth Poet Laureate Patricia Frazier
The Download, May 3, 2018
The year Chicago hip-hop beat the haters
Chicago Reader, February 22, 2017