Yusef embarked on his journey of advocacy at the age of 16 while in juvenile prison at the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka, Kansas.
Yusef, who had been in foster care and was classified as a CINC case (Child in Need of Care), had encountered a tumultuous path, having transitioned through over a hundred foster homes during his eight-year tenure in the foster care system before being adopted by his aunt. His advocacy commenced through his involvement with the Jobs for America's Graduates Kansas program (JAG K).
Yusef's dedication to advocating for youth extended beyond the confines of academia. He assumed the role of a youth leader for the New York-based organization, Youth First Justice Collaborative, fervently championing the cause of keeping kids out of prison. His endeavors were recognized when he secured a prestigious $60,000 grant from the Open Society Foundation. Tasked with spearheading the YP Project, he focused on addressing the foster care to prison pipeline.
Continuing his advocacy journey, Yusef successfully completed a five-month organizing training under the Dream Justice Cohort by the organization, Dream.org. Additionally, he underwent an eight-month Policy Fellowship with the Black Futures Public Policy Institute. Yusef's commitment to shedding light on issues led him to collaborate on a documentary with Debt Free Justice, exploring the impact of fines and fees on youth. Yusef serves as a changemaker for the Washington D.C.-based organization, A New Deal for Youth, and actively contributes as a lived expert with the Annie E. Casey Foundation on an initiative called Kansas Soul Family, offering foster youth in care a fourth permanency option.
Currently pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership at Wichita State University, Yusef anticipates graduating in December 2025.
He is a devoted father to one child and resides in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas. Guided by the words of Glen Martin, Yusef firmly believes in the maxim, "Those closest to the problem are closest to the solution but farthest away from resources and solutions."