The Youth Equity Discovery Initiative (YEDI) aims to provide undergraduate students — particularly students with lived experience of marginalization — a mentored trajectory of meaningful, community-engaged research to become changemakers toward youth well-being and equity. YEDI is a program of Innovations for Youth, a cross-disciplinary, innovative research hub addressing issues of youth equity through collaborative research, training and community engagement.
The initiative draws upon successful undergraduate training and a community of faculty united around youth equity in the School of Education, the School of Social Welfare, and the School of Public Health. This cross-disciplinary approach fosters students’ inter-professional skills for addressing youth inequities in their careers. It will also promote a community of YEDI scholars who not only support youth, but also support each other.