Project WHAT!

Project WHAT! (We’re Here And Talking!) is a paid leadership and advocacy program for Bay Area youth ages 14+ who had or currently have an incarcerated parent or have been impacted by the criminal justice system. The goal of Project WHAT! is to create a community that encourages children with incarcerated parents or those that have been system impacted to use their voice, pride, and power. PW Youth Advocates are trained as facilitators, and eventually use their experiential expertise and leadership skills to provide training workshops for law enforcement, educators, lawmakers, and other community members on how to interact with, support, and advocate for children with incarcerated parents. Using their public speaking and leadership skills gained through the program, they advocate for themselves and their peers at the local and State level by speaking at legislative hearings, participating in protests, and presenting at conferences.