How can youth help to improve the culture and policies of their school districts?

In Part 2 of ESD's series on the Civically Engaged Districts Project, students and teachers discuss how they conducted research and took action to effect real change in their central New Jersey districts. They addressed challenging issues, such as gun control, student mental health, and creating an inclusive school community. Listen to hear what they learned from the experience and  how district leaders responded.

Student Participants:
Tabatha Alegria, Emely Garcia, Oluwafisayo (Fefe) Kotun, Eddylenn Hidalgo, James Nicolai, John Nicolai

Teacher Participants:
Chris Monaghan, Sean Villegas, Brandi Gustafson, Luma Hasan

Part 1 of this series features administrators who worked on the project and the professor who helps guide the work. Please check it out at the link below.

Resources Related to the Civically Engaged Districts Project:

Civically Engaged Districts Projects Website

Youth Participatory Action Research Hub (curricular resources)

Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning (YELL) Curriculum Guide


Related Articles by Beth Rubin:

Towards a Civically Relevant Civics Education (in TRSE)

Confronting the Urban Civic Opportunity Gap (in JTE)

Navigating Y-PAR in the Classroom (Curriculum Inquiry)


ESD Podcast Resources:

Education for Sustainable Democracy Site

Brett Levy's Open Access Research Articles

ESD YouTube Channel (Please subscribe!)


Prior ESD Episodes on Y-PAR:

Civically Engaged Districts Project - Part 1, with Prof. Beth Rubin (Rutgers University) and District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)

Students Addressing Public Issues through Action Civics, with Scott Warren (Generation Citizen)