Charlene Carruthers facts for kids

Charlene A. Carruthers is an important activist and author. She is known for her work in helping young people become leaders. She focuses on issues important to Black, queer, and feminist communities. Charlene has worked with big activist groups like Color of Change and the Women's Media Center. She also helped start and lead the Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100) from 2013 to 2018.

Activist Career

Charlene Carruthers says her political journey began when she studied in South Africa at age 18. Since then, much of her work has been about helping people from all backgrounds get involved in politics. She helps them become leaders in their communities.

She has worked with or been on the boards of groups like the Arcus Foundation and SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective. She also worked with Wellstone Action and the NAACP. Charlene has also focused on bringing different groups together. She traveled to Palestine with other African-American activists. This trip helped build connections between organizers in both places.

Black Youth Project 100

In July 2013, Charlene Carruthers joined 100 young Black activist leaders in Chicago. They met to create a network for Black youth activism across the country. During this meeting, news came that George Zimmerman was found not guilty in the sad event involving Trayvon Martin. This news inspired Charlene and the others to form the Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100). They wanted to organize young Black activists to stand up against unfair systems.

Charlene became the first National Director of BYP100. The group focuses a lot on training new leaders and teaching people how to make changes. This helps a new generation of Black activists grow strong. BYP100 believes that different challenges are connected. For example, their plan "Agenda to Keep us Safe" says that economic fairness helps achieve fairness for all genders and races.

Charlene Carruthers has spoken out about how the justice system affects people of color. She also talks about how it impacts transgender and non-binary people, and those who are poor. She believes these systems play a big role in the challenges people face.

Police Accountability

Charlene Carruthers often speaks out about police actions. She believes that governments need to respond better to serious cases. She also questions the basic ideas behind the American justice system. In August 2014, she went to Ferguson, Missouri. She helped train and organize young Black people there. This was after a sad event involving 18-year-old Mike Brown.

Chicago Police Department

Charlene grew up in Chicago's South Side. She has often criticized the Chicago Police Department. She organized protests after a sad event involving 22-year-old Rekia Boyd. Charlene also spoke out after a sad event involving 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. She criticized how the city handled the event. She also called for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County State Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Films Charlene Carruthers wrote, directed, and helped produce The Funnel. This is a short film about love, family history, and the Black experience of moving and staying strong.

Published Works