Summary
Land Rights Defenders (LRD) is launching a transformative educational initiative to empower underserved youth in Ohio with critical knowledge about land rights, housing stability, and civic engagement. Through our Legal Literacy & Land Rights Toolkit and engaging workshops, we will reach students, youth leaders, and families across Dayton and Franklin County. This project helps young people understand tenant protections, land ownership pathways, and how to advocate for justice in their communities, ensuring the next generation has the tools to resist displacement and build community resilience.
What Is the Problem?
Across Ohio, low-income and marginalized communities, especially Black and Brown families, face increasing threats of displacement, housing insecurity, and land loss. Many young people grow up unaware of their legal rights when it comes to housing, land use, and community development. Schools rarely teach legal literacy, and families often lack access to trusted, culturally relevant resources. As a result, entire communities are left vulnerable to eviction, gentrification, and unjust land seizures.
This knowledge gap perpetuates generational poverty and silences youth voices in decisions about their neighborhoods. Without accessible education on land rights and housing justice, youth and families cannot advocate effectively for stability, ownership, or fair treatment. The challenge is urgent—and without intervention, the cycle of disempowerment will continue.
How Will This Project Solve the Problem?
Land Rights Defenders will launch interactive legal literacy workshops, distribute our community-informed educational book, and host youth-centered outreach events across Ohio. These sessions will teach young people and their families about tenant rights, fair housing laws, land ownership pathways, and how to navigate legal threats like eviction or gentrification.
Our approach combines storytelling, art, and practical legal tools to make complex land issues understandable and engaging. By equipping youth with this knowledge early, we build long-term community power and leadership. As participants learn their rights, they gain confidence to advocate for themselves, support their families, and become changemakers in their neighborhoods.
Potential Long-Term Impact
This project doesn’t just deliver information, it builds a movement for land justice, one empowered youth at a time. This project will create a ripple effect of empowerment in Ohio’s most vulnerable communities. By educating youth and families about their housing and land rights, we’re laying the foundation for long-term community stability, reduced displacement, and increased civic participation.
Over time, we expect to see: • More families were protected from eviction, land loss, and exploitation. • Increased advocacy for fair housing policies and equitable land use. • Stronger grassroots leadership, especially among youth, who will grow into informed, justice-minded community stewards. • A replicable model of land rights education that can expand across other states and regions facing similar issues.
The knowledge and confidence gained through this project will empower individuals and communities to shape the future of their neighborhoods for generations to come.