Youth Organized and United to Help (Y.O.U.TH) was founded by Imani Muhammad in 2010 in response to the death of 14-year-old Davonte Lightfoot who was killed in 2007. Imani lead her former students, peers and community to institutionalize the first Youth Summit in Portland in February 2007. This marked the first of 13 years of events and summits organized by Y.O.U.TH and the community. Davonte’s death was the impetus for the creation of Y.O.U.TH and the inspiration for the annual Portland Y.O.U.TH Summit and related community events. In 2019 Y.O.U.TH evolved and took on a programmatic approach in dismantling the school to prison pipeline by challenging existing structures and systems.

Imani was a teacher at the time of Davonte’s death and saw first hand the tragedy of another child fallen to gun violence. Having spent years in youth development in non profit sector and community work, Imani knew we needed to do better for our youth. We need to give them a future rooted in community, cultural celebration and possibility. Not a future where violence shatters families and not a future dictated by institutions that have continued barriers for our youth for decades. Y.O.U.TH not only celebrates Black and Brown Excellence, but also helps youth carve a different path - a path free from violence and the juvenile justice systems to a future where our youth can not only dream, but be see the path forward to making their dreams reality.