Every High School. Every Zip Code. Everywhere.

The Culture Shifters Collective is a group of young students dedicated to combating gun violence and seeing Philadelphia be better for all of us.

The Collective is bringing together Gen-Z leaders, organizers, and City leadership on the issue of gun violence and public safety. Youth leaders will have an opportunity to share their personal stories, connect with advocacy work on behalf of their peers, and recommend how to move forward as a city. Members of the Philadelphia Youth Commission will also serve as liaisons, ensuring that the ideas, feedback, and strategies generated during meetings are executed.

The Culture Shifter Collective is supported by Minister Zay – a local influencer, young entrepreneur, and grassroots anti-violence organizer. Minister Zay’s brand, Stay Humble Stay Hungry, is one of the city’s most popular brands – and its message of hope, self-love, and honor is one that resonates deeply with young people everywhere.

The goal of this series is to strategize, organize, and execute programming, special events, and policy recommendations in an effort to move the needle on the epidemic of violence in our communities and make our city a safer place.

The Culture Shifters Series will achieve this by:

  • Meeting regularly with City officials and local elected officials about ongoing efforts
  • Sharing relevant City and community resources like job/internship opportunities, mental health/wellness supports, and after-school programming
  • Drafting policy recommendations to share with the administration
  • Organizing town halls and special events around public safety where youth voice is prioritized
  • Serving as the point of contact for schools as it relates to engagement from the City of Philadelphia and the Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement

The Mayor’s Office of Youth Engagement will select one ambassador from each of the School District’s 56 high schools to be a part of this incredible coalition.

In order to join the Collective, applicants must be currently attending high school in the School District of Philadelphia.

Interested high school students can apply via the Culture Shifters Registration page.