Game Changers

Khalid Sarsour

Khalid Sarsour is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan-Dearborn majoring in History with a minor in Philosophy. Khalid has been part of the Young People’s Project since his senior year of high school. The Young People’s Project (YPP) develops students aged 8-22 from traditionally marginalized populations as learners, teachers, leaders, and organizers through math and media literacy, community-building, and advocacy in order to build a unique network of young people who are better equipped to navigate life’s circumstances, are active in their communities, and advocate for education reform in America. YPP envisions a day when every young person—regardless of ethnicity, gender, or class—has access to a high quality education and the skills, attributes, and community support s/he needs to successfully meet the challenges of their generation.

Khalid believes that youth are the most important thing to this nation, and making sure that they are empowered to achieve anything they want is an important aspect of what he does. The most rewarding part of his role at YPP is opening up the minds of the youth. Khalid uses math modules to mentor his students. It requires them to think critically about a subject they are timid about and encourages them to develop team work and social skills they are not already familiar with in school. Khalid has seen students become more vocal, critical, and confident which in turn empowers them to achieve their goals and positively affects their performance in school. Khalid is also involved in YPP’s community organizing efforts via Facebook, Twitter, email, and community events to get local schools and their communities behind the YPP program. Apart from spreading the word about YPP, events encourage dialogue between parents, teachers, and students on issues that impact youth and provide a platform from which to attack and solve these issues. YPP tries to promote awareness of existing problems or challenges in the community and assists community members in developing their own concepts of social justice in order to find solutions to the problems.

Khalid is currently working with high schools in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Michigan and is helping with the establishment of YPP in Detroit. Apart from YPP, Khalid is an intern at Sukkar Law where he works on immigration and naturalization claims.