IDRA’s roots are in San Antonio’s Westside, where students organized five decades ago to challenge Texas’ inequitable school funding system that left generations of Latino and Black students in poorly-resourced schools. Today, students are still calling for safe and welcoming schools that prepare them for college and a strong future. We must listen.
Below are some highlights of student voices through their own research and activism.
Virtual Summit: IDRA’s 2023 National Virtual Youth Summit was designed for students across the country to learn about how they can advocate for safer and more successful learning environments, especially in communities targeted by inequitable education policies. IDRA facilitated this work, but the plans and actions were student-driven. The video and slidedeck are available for viewing.
Through IDRA’s inaugural 2022 Youth Advisory Board, 10 high school students from across Texas provided their insights about equity in education and advocacy.
Podcast Episode: The Law in Education – Students Press for Affirmative Action – Podcast Episode 229, October 26, 2022
Podcast Episode: STEM Journeys of Two Young Women of Color – Part 1 – Podcast Episode 218, January 24, 2022
Podcast Episodes: The Law in Education – Students Press for Affirmative Action – Podcast Episode 229, January 24, 2022; and STEM Journeys of Two Young Women of Color – Part 2 – Podcast Episode 219, February 7, 2022
Virtual Summit: Leading into the 2021 Texas legislative session IDRA hosted a Texas Student Advocacy Convening virtual summit for students to hear the results of a student-led survey about experiences with school during the pandemic, discuss major policy issues the legislature was considering and issues you think they should consider, and plan next steps for elevating student voices at the capitol. IDRA facilitated this work, but the plans and actions were student-driven.
Webinar: Our Youth Tech Mentors Bridge Schools and Families – Creative Community Responses to COVID-19 webinar presented teens and college students who were helping families and their children navigate technology for school.
Student Panelists: STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Convening – STEM Talk Videos: IDRA helped to coordinate the opening session of the international STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Convening on March 2, 2020. Students kicked off the event with a student panel discussion followed by individual student STEM talks
Report Highlights: Student Researchers Report on Struggles their Peers Face During COVID-19, by Jacqueline Campos, Monica Cruz, Alejo Peña Soto, Fatimah Rasul & Ana Ramón, IDRA Newsletter
Article: Steps for Helping Students Become Activists – A Teen’s Advice, Melivia Mujia, IDRA Newsletter
Infographic: Steps to Promoting Student Activism
Webinar: Reimagining Student Engagement: Revamping School Policy and Practice and Fostering Student Advocacy, featuring Thomas Marshall III, M.Ed., Christina Quintanilla-Muñoz, M.Ed., & Melivia Mujica. This webinar explores how schools can reimagine their student and family engagements students return this fall to rebuild and foster authentic relationships between campus leadership, teachers, students and families while helping to reinforce trust and positive family attitudes about students’ education and school-family engagement. Held during the IDRA EAC-South virtual convening, July 2021.
Podcast Episode: Student Activists in High School,” IDRA Classnotes Podcast Episode 191, featuring Melivia Mujia and Evany Gonzales.
Webinar: The Power of Student Advocacy, featuring Melivia Mujica, Michelle Nguyen. This session discusses how to create a space for students to bring in input to create a safe space in an educational space and how to increase student engagement and student voice from the experience of former students who pushed for mental health supports from IDRA’s work with student advocates. Held during the IDRA EAC-South virtual convening, July 2021.
This resource is part of the IDRA Student Engagement – Online Technical Assistance Toolkit.
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