Chimaera Bailey: Elevating Youth Voices and Empowering Change
Photos by Jordan Somers
In a recent episode of The Day with Trae, host Trae Holiday welcomed Chimaera Bailey, a dynamic community organizer and advocate with a long-standing commitment to youth empowerment. Bailey, who began her work with the organization Powerful Voices in 2011, shared her journey of supporting young people and creating spaces for them to find and use their voices in meaningful ways.
Bailey's involvement with Powerful Voices, a Seattle-based organization, spans over a decade and includes roles from program coordinator to her current leadership in fostering brave spaces for BIPOC girls and gender-expansive youth. Reflecting on her early days as a 17-year-old homeless youth driven by a passion for justice, Bailey spoke about how mentors helped her realize her purpose and build skills in anti-racist work. She now channels that same passion into her work, ensuring young people have the support and tools needed to thrive.
Powerful Voices takes a unique approach to youth development, rejecting traditional methods of top-down instruction. Instead, it centers on the philosophy that young people are the experts of their own lives and empowers them to lead the way. Bailey emphasized the importance of collaboration with youth, allowing them to explore issues that are meaningful to them, from mental health to racial justice, and providing resources and mentorship to guide their advocacy and creative projects.
One of the flagship programs, ACTA VISTAs, pairs youth participants with adult allies (mentors) to research topics of personal significance. The program culminates in presentations or workshops at the organization's annual Revolution Conference, a testament to the skills and confidence these young leaders build over time. Bailey noted the deep sense of community and family that develops among participants, which often becomes a cherished part of their journey.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Powerful Voices adapted to a virtual model, which Bailey noted as a pivotal moment for the organization. This shift pushed the organization to rethink accessibility and align more closely with its commitment to disability justice, turning what seemed like a setback into an opportunity to innovate and improve inclusivity.
Bailey's experiences highlight the transformative impact of the programs at Powerful Voices, both for the youth involved and for the broader community. She spoke of the joy and fulfillment that comes from seeing participants grow more confident and vocal over time, sometimes returning to share how the programs have shaped their paths and aspirations.
To stay updated on Chimaera Bailey's work and learn more about Powerful Voices, you can visit powerfulvoices.org.
To see more guests like Chimaera, tune in with Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
