Equity Design Thinking Project
Identifying the most impactful ways the CYPT collaborative can support system-wide change in the
name of equity for children and youth.
Equity Design Thinking Task Group
Equity has always been a core value of the CYPT — and our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan further solidifies our commitment to centering equity in our work.
The Equity Design Thinking Task Group formed in 2023 with the goal of exploring the unique positioning of the CYPT collaborative in creating systems change. By doing this, the group aimed to identify the most impactful ways the CYPT structure can support system-wide equity for children and youth.
In January 2024, Jennifer Gordon joined the group as a consultant to support the Equity Design Thinking Project. Over the course of eight months, focus groups made up of CYPT members went through the design process to move towards concrete areas and actions. In December, the Task Group approved a report with 29 recommended actions based on needs and areas of focus from the CYPT Strategic Plan.
Top Five Prioritized Actions
In March 2025, the Equity Design Thinking Task Group determined the top five actions the CYPT will prioritize. This doesn’t mean that other recommendations won’t also move forward, but there will be an intentional effort to focus on the below five items.
Recommendation | Category | Level of Resourcing | Resourcing Score | Strat Plan Score | Total Score |
The CYPT has embraced youth-led opportunities and is in a | A flawed Systems Approach | Low | 5 | 5 | 10 |
The CYPT can demonstrate power sharing and youth | Building Up Our Changemakers | Low | 5 | 5 | 10 |
Promote and provide avenues for youth | Funder / Funding Barriers | Low-Medium | 4 | 5 | 9 |
Supporting local equity focused changemakers in person | Building Up Our Changemakers | Low | 5 | 4 | 9 |
Model the change it wishes to see in the | System Wide Empathy and Understanding | Low-Medium | 4 | 5 | 9 |
How EDT Has Advanced in 2027
In January 2026, Kamil Ahmed (Community Justice Initiatives) joined us a consultant to move forward the action “Model the change it wishes to see in the community through an ask for a robust equity commitment from membership.” Kamil led conversations with the CYPT Steering Committee, Voting Member Organizations, and staff. Then, at the June 2026 All Member Meeting, he shared the initial proposed plan.
As of September 2026, the work we have done together has highlighted the importance of equity commitments that can be made by an individual, by an organization, and by the CYPT entity.
To that end, Steering Committee recognizes the importance of “starting at home” first by focusing on the internal side of the CYPT. For the rest of 2026, Steering Committee will focus on building the internal equity commitment. From there, “a commitment from members” can be best established. Please stay tuned for further details.
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