Northern Region Policy Coordinator
Christi Ketchum
916-651-0268
Cell: 404-840-8323
christi@calyouthconn.org
Christi H. Ketchum is a native of Sacramento, California, and lived in Atlanta, GA for the last 18 years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education from Clark Atlanta University, a historical Black College in Atlanta, Georgia. Her profession career has included working with several nationally recognized organizations, including Planned Parenthood, American Cancer Society, Sacramento AIDS Foundation, Birthing Project, The Advocacy Center, Volunteer Center of Sacramento, Early Start Program of Sacramento City College, YouthAction, and Fund for Southern Communities.
Her most notable work is with Project South: Institute for the Elimination of Poverty & Genocide for 10 years. Recognizing the need for leadership development among young people ages 13-18, Christi founded, initiated, nurtured, and coordinated the Project South Youth Council established in 2001. She and Youth Leaders built key relationships with local, regional, and national stakeholders, and public speaking & facilitating popular political education workshops at conferences and gatherings around the country. Over the years the youth created over 100 popular education workshops, traveled throughout the Southeast Region, California, New York, Seattle and Washington, DC and hosted the Youth Tent at the United States Social Forum in 2007, a historic international & inter-generational gathering of organizers and activities. Her youth leadership development model has been replicated in other community based organizations in Atlanta and the Southeast Region. Christi has developed partnerships with local and national networks of youth activists, artists, academic institutions, community organizers & organizations. Through her leadership and vision, the Youth Council became a vital piece of the organizations programming work bridging the organization from a post civil rights era to the present social movements of today. Her leadership has been critical to the collective success and the continuation of youth development work in the city of Atlanta and across the Southeast.
Throughout her career she has worked with several organizations and networks focusing on the advancement of Black Women, Reproductive Justice, Dismantling Oppression, Prison Industrial Complex and Social Justice. Currently, she is the founder of Our Rightful, a network for Black Women to come together for positive dialogue, sharing stories, building strong relationships, and creating an open and safe space for WOMEN to become better leaders, mothers, allies, friends and social change agents.
On a personal level she comes from a family that has raised and adopted several family members and understands the importance of supporting today's youth. She is looking forward to working with CYC and building on the legacy this organization has developed over the years.
