Students Ahsha Jones and Chloe Serrano founded Melanated Youth, a BIPOC youth-led coalition that uplifts members of the community who need it most. The coalition provides resources and organizes demonstrations to end inequality on all fronts through mutual aids, protests, and discourse. Ahsha and Chloe are based in Orange County, California, but they plan to expand the coalition's impact across the nation. This action-led group relies on the support of fellow community members who volunteer, donate, or participate in Melanated Youth's events. Their anti-oppression efforts are "by the people, for the people." Melanated Youth and Closing the Gap acknowledge that Orange County lies on unceded Tongva land. Melanated Youth Resources: Website Social Media - Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn Support Iranian Protests: Middle East Matters Action Items Definitions: Decolonize - to free from the dominating influence of a colonizing power AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Femicide - an extreme form of gender-based violence where women are killed because they are female Xenophobic - prejudice against people from other countries Follow us on Instagram ✨ We want to hear from you! Email us at closingthegappod@gmail.com Cover art by Vivian Garcia (@viv_doodles) Intro and Outro music: Clocks by Smith the Mister (All rights and credit go to Smith the Mister. No copyright infringements intended)