On a hot Friday night in Detroit, young people gathered, not for a party, but to learn about power, leadership and civic engagement. Just days before the city’s primary election, youth from across Detroit met on the city’s westside for Youth Civic Night at the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters & Millwrights Training Center .
The event was hosted by the City of Detroit Youth Affairs Team, a youth-led initiative under Detroit’s Department of Neighborhoods, founded in 2023. The night featured music by DJ Tee Two Times, civic trivia, spoken word, voter education, and conversations with city officials and distinguished guests on how young people can create change in their neighborhoods and city government.
For Shamere Duncan, Youth Affairs Engagement Coordinator, the event was part of a larger effort to give youth a seat on the table. “Youth Civic Night is a space created by and for young people to learn about civic life in a way that’s engaging, accessible, and empowering,” Duncan said. “It’s not a lecture, it’s a celebration. “We bring together youth voices, community leaders, and local government to show how young people can shape the decisions that impact their lives.”
Duncan has worked in youth engagement for over two and a half years and said the idea for the event came directly from listening to Detroit’s youth. “We were inspired by conversations with young people who told us they wanted to be involved but didn’t always know where to start or feel like their voices mattered,” she said. “Youth Civic Night is our response to that. It’s a way to bridge the gap and create a welcoming first step into civic engagement, especially for youth of color who have historically been left out of these spaces.”
Duncan also emphasized that civic spaces must be inclusive, especially for Latino youth and youth of color.“ Representation matters. “When young people of color see themselves reflected in leadership and civic spaces, it sends a clear message: “You belong here, and your voice matters.”
Her biggest hope? “Young people have the ability to create real change. And they don’t have to wait to be older to make a difference, they can start now.”
One of the night’s most powerful moments came from a spoken-word performance by Charisma Holly, a 17-year-old artist and recent graduate of Detroit Edison Public School Academy. Her poem, “Detroit 2050,” painted a hopeful vision of Detroit 25 years from now, complete with clean air, better schools, safe neighborhoods, and local businesses thriving. “As long as we continue to believe in the progress we see, and the visions that we will someday make into reality because in the Detroit City the “D” has always been for Dreams”
Her performance was attention-grabbing and earned loud cheers, but her reason for being there was much deeper than that: “I believe very deeply in the power of the youth voice and what happens when we empower our future leaders to speak up today.”
Although Holly isn’t old enough to vote, she said young people should still stay involved. “The purpose of events like these is to increase exposure and information,” she said. “When the public is educated on what’s going on around them, we’re able to make more informed decisions.”
Many attendees echoed that same feeling.
Lessley Romero Rodriguez, a Henry Ford College student and intern with the Youth Affairs Team, said she appreciated the welcoming environment. It was a great turnout. “I got to connect with others and got a lot of great resources,” she said. “I’m not really involved in politics, but it was nice to hear other youth’s opinions and voices.” “I am going to vote, and it’s to support my community and make our city a better place.”
She added that events like this also come with fun perks, free food, prizes, networking, and even job and volunteer opportunities.
Although Detroit’s city primary election took place on Tuesday, August 5, organizers reminded attendees that civic engagement doesn’t stop at the ballot box. “It’s not just about elections,” said Duncan. “It’s about speaking up, organizing, volunteering, and participating in your community year-round.”
And while the primary election has passed, the election season is far from over. The general election is November 4, and events like Youth Civic Night build momentum to keep civic engagement high throughout the year.
The Youth Affairs Team offers several year-round opportunities for engagement, including the Shadow Program, which allows young people to follow city leaders for a day, and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent, a summer jobs program that connects youth to work experiences across the city.
For Briefly, a 15-year-old student, the event was a reminder that civic engagement is for everyone. “Even if they can’t vote, young people can learn a lot about our history and why it’s important to be involved in the community,” she said. “Our voices can make a big difference.”
And for many young Detroiters, the message of the night was clear: Civic life belongs to everyone. “When young people know they have power,” Duncan said, “they begin to use it, and that’s how change starts.”
Kaylee Razo is an Alumna of Detroit Cristo Rey High School and an incoming freshman at Harvard University, where she plans to concentrate in government and economics. She is an intern with Strangers No Longer and a mentor at the Michigan Youth Civil Rights Academy.
This article was made possible thanks to a generous grant to EL CENTRAL Hispanic News by Press Forward, the national movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at www.pressforward.news.
