Afrofuturism: is a term originating from Mark Dery in 1994, referring to a way for Black people to reimagine a future of their own without structural racism, sexism, or any other systematic barriers. Afrofuturism is the way for blackness to be reimagined by black people, through art, media, technology, science, fashion, and philosophy. 

Systemic Racism: commonly referred to as Institutional Racism is discrimination within policies and laws that leaves people of color disadvantaged in accessing fair and equitable means to goods, services, and opportunities produced and/or carried out by institutions. Instances of Systematic Racism are Jim Crow laws, redlining, and zero tolerance policies. 

Structural Racism:  is the legitimization and normalization of discriminatory procedures and processes that routinely puts whites in a higher social categories of privilege, producing chronic inauspicious outcomes for people of color.

Marginalized Groups: are people, communities, and groups that experience discrimination and are denied involvement in mainstream economic, political, cultural, and social activities because of unequal power structures.

Youth Organizing is an approach that facilitates and empowers youth’s power and capability to be community organizers and change agents to address issues.

Issue Briefs:  area short, concise summaries, usually written to inform readers across all education backgrounds, fields, and expertise of a pressing issue and problem.

Policy Briefs: builds on issue briefs providing a comprehensive analysis of a policy issue and recommendations for policy development and implementation. A policy brief is aimed at policymakers and those interested in developing or regulate policy change.  

Direct Action: is any action that seeks to fight and protest against social, political, and economic injustice. Some forms of direct action include rallies, strikes, demonstrations, and boycotts. 

Community-Engaged Research: is founded on the bases of community engagement as researchers work collectively with affected community members in academic research. 

YPAR (youth participatory action research): according to YPAR HUB , “is an innovative approach to positive youth and community development based on social justice principles in which young people are trained to conduct systematic research to improve their lives, their communities, and the institutions intended to serve them.” YPAR HUB.(2015).YPAR (youth participatory action research). Berkely.  http://yparhub.berkeley.edu/