AART onboards three new Activists in Residence fellows

In late February, AART welcomed three new fellows to our Activists in Residence (AiR) program: Aoki White, Janiya Johnson, and Dame Perkins. They are joining founding members Perry Perkins, Jenaiah Lyle, Zoe Chambers, and Senior Youth Organizing Fellow Sierra Lyle, who helped develop the program alongside AART’s youth organizer, Thomas Leonard. 

AART's Activists in Residence (AiR) program prepares Black youth ages 13–19 for careers in nonprofit management, community health, advocacy, and public administration through experiential learning. Our fellows don't just learn about professional skills—they practice them through real community organizing work.

This summer AiR fellows and youth members are practicing their skills and deepening their leadership by co-leading the Feed the Change MKE food access campaign.  Although the campaign launch has passed, check out this video in which AART youth leaders share their experience with food apartheid in Milwaukee. 

They also had their hands full with our photographer Marquis Wright of KQ Productions. Marquis taught them photography basics, and many of them caught on rather quickly!  We're excited that they are receiving hands-on experience that prepares them for opportunities in the future.

Through the rest of the year, AART youth leaders will participate in street canvassing at this summer’s Juneteenth celebration and host a summer Youth Hangout on July 29 to support their work and build momentum towards a youth member-led campaign launch in 2027. Youth Hangouts are vibrant, youth-driven events designed for young people (ages 13-20). Hosted by AART, these gatherings are an opportunity to connect, learn, and engage with AART’s mission and work. 

If you're a young person or know a young person in Milwaukee ready to organize alongside others who believe in your power, we invite you and them to join us. Sign up for Youth Membership at the African American Roundtable at bit.ly/AARTYouthMember. Learn more about what we are building together here.  This isn't about waiting for the right moment or proving you're "ready enough." Your voice matters now. Your leadership is needed now.

Our growing movement needs more people and is already happening. The only question left is whether you're going to be part of it.