MEJC YOUTH COLLECTIVE & YOUNG ADULT STUDENT SUBCOMITTEE
The MEJC Youth Collective, our mission is to empower every student in Michigan by building authentic youth power and advocating for an equitable, inclusive, and supportive education system. Authentic youth power means giving students real influence and control over their educational experiences and the decisions that affect their lives through school governance. We are dedicated to securing fair resources for schools, ensuring they have the funding needed for essentials like good school facilities, nutritious meals, mental health services, and college and career guidance. We advocate for a curriculum that recognizes systemic issues, celebrates diverse cultures, and prepares students to contribute to a just society. Our goal is to transform education in Michigan so that every student can thrive and make a meaningful impact in their world.
What does youth power look like?
It looks like:
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A student asking a question that adults haven't thought about.
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Young people designing their own event instead of simply being invited to one.
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Students speaking directly to elected officials.
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Youth creating campaigns, videos, graphics, and messages.
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Young people learning how to facilitate a meeting and then facilitating the next one themselves.
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Students building relationships that turn into lifelong friendships, networks, and opportunities.
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Young people realizing that their voice can actually move something.
That's youth power.
MEET OUR YOUTH EXEC. BOARD
YC Co-Chair
JIHYUN KO
Jihyun (she/her) is a student leader and youth advocate from Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a passion for education equity, climate justice, and building youth power. She is a junior in Ann Arbor Public Schools and serves as a Co-Lead of the MEJC Youth Collective.
Jihyun also serves as a Co-Lead of the 2026 Membership Team for Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s National Youth Action Team, where she is one of eight national youth leaders supporting a network of more than 220,000 advocates and 380 chapters. Through her organizing and leadership work, Jihyun is committed to creating meaningful opportunities for young people to shape the policies and decisions that affect their schools, communities, and futures.
YC Co-Chair
ABIGAIL VALDIVIA
Abby (she/her) is a student leader and youth organizer from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she attends City High Middle School. She is a member and co-founder of SALT, Student Association Leadership and Transformation, a youth-led collective founded in 2021. Through SALT and the MEJC Youth Collective, Abby has developed her skills in youth organizing, facilitation, public speaking, and peer education.
Abby is also a young entrepreneur and the founder of her own flower bouquet business, Flower Bouquets by Abi. She is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to lead, build confidence, and make their voices heard. She has spoken at public events and helped teach classes through a peer education program. Outside of organizing, Abby enjoys playing soccer and spending time with her siblings.
YC Treasurer
MICAH BURTON
Micah (they/them) is a student leader, organizer, and creative who brings a strong background in leadership, teamwork, and community involvement to the MEJC Youth Collective. Micah has developed leadership skills through years of Scouts experience and community involvement, while also participating in band and theater both onstage and behind the scenes.
As the Youth Collective Treasurer, Micah brings their creativity, commitment, and strong organizational and money-management skills to the team. They are passionate about helping young people build leadership skills, work together, and create positive change in their schools and communities.
YASS Liason
JAMEY FARMER
Jamey (he/him) is a student activist and youth leader who began his college journey at the University of Michigan. He has been involved in youth advocacy and organizing across Michigan, including previously serving as a Youth Collective Co-Chair with the Michigan Education Justice Coalition.
Jamey brings experience in youth leadership, public speaking, advocacy, and creating space for young people to share their experiences and perspectives. As the MEJC Youth Collective's YASS Liaison, he helps strengthen the connection between the Youth Collective and the Young Adult Student Subcommittee, supporting collaboration and leadership development across both youth programs.
Jamey is passionate about helping young people turn their experiences into advocacy, build community, and have a meaningful role in shaping the future of Michigan.
KEEPING UP WITH THE COLLECTIVE
BACK TO SCHOOL: MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE FORUM RECAP
Our Education Is Not a Game:
Young people shouldn't have to wait until they're old enough to run for office to have a say in politics. So we created our own space to ask the questions.
The MEJC Youth Collective and YASS hosted a youth-led Michigan Senate Candidate Forum focused on the future of public education and the issues that matter to students. But this wasn't just a forum where young people sat in the audience. Youth helped build it. Youth Collective and Young Adult Student Subcommittee members helped develop questions, shape the event, create the messaging, facilitate the conversation, and bring a student perspective to the discussion.
The goal?
Put young people in the driver's seat.
The result?
A conversation about education, policy, and the future of Michigan that centered the people who experience our education system every day:
Students.
The Questions?
And we're not going to let them disappear just because the clock ran out.
During our Senate Candidate Forum, youth came prepared with questions about education funding, student voice, school policy, the future of public education, and what elected officials can actually do to improve students' lives. We didn't get to every question.
So we're putting them here: YC/YASS SENATE QUESTIONS
My Education Is Not a Game is a youth-created video by MEJC Youth Collective member Micah Burton that was featured during our Michigan Senate Candidate Forum.
The message is simple:
Students are not a talking point.
We are the people living the reality of our education system every day.
After watching, ask yourself:
What would you change about your education if someone actually asked you?
YOUTH HIGHLIGHTS:
NEED TO TALK?
Have Questions About Youth Opportunities?
Want to know more about YC, YASS, POPS, youth events, organizing opportunities, or ways to get involved?
Reach out to Youth Organizer Lead - Imani Clark (she/they): imani@miedjustice.org.
They can help answer questions about youth programming, upcoming opportunities, getting connected, and ways young people can plug into MEJC's work.
RESOURCES
Back-to-School Youth Advocacy Toolkit
School is back, and so is youth power! Download this fun, interactive back to school activities
created to help students learn, reflect, and have conversations about education and advocacy.
Learn something. Ask a question. Speak up. Get involved. Your voice belongs in the conversation about the future of education.
MEJC Youth Collective + YASS: Stay Connected
The 2026–2027 YC/YASS application cycle is currently closed.
Still interested in getting involved? Fill out this short interest form so we can stay connected with you about future opportunities, youth organizing, events, volunteer opportunities, and the next YC/YASS application cycle.
This form is for students, young people, community leaders, potential adult allies, volunteers, and anyone interested in learning more about MEJC youth organizing.
Our next YC/YASS application cycle will reopen in Spring 2027.
This is not an application or a guarantee of membership. It is a way to let us know you're interested and help us connect you with opportunities that may be a good fit.
PARTNERS
GET INVOLVED
GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO HEAR IT.
Michigan Students & Virtual School Placements
Have you or your child been placed in a virtual school program after the pandemic? We're collecting student and family experiences to help the Student Advocacy Center, Michigan Education Justice Coalition, and policymakers better understand what virtual school placements actually look like for students and identify opportunities for policy change. The survey asks about why students were placed in virtual school, the support they received, barriers they experienced, and their transition out of virtual learning.
Important: This survey is specifically for students or families who have experienced a virtual school placement. If you have never been placed in a virtual school, please do not complete it.Your experience can help make sure policy conversations include the voices of students who lived through these experiences.
Share Your Experience, Take the Michigan Virtual School Placement Survey: HERE