IntegrateNYC: Youth Voice for Real Integration

We're joined by Karla and Jedidah - two high school students in New York City who are leaders at IntegrateNYC.  This youth led organization fights for integration and equity in all NYC schools.  From protest to policy, they center student voice  because students are the ones most directly impacted by the segregation, and the ones with the most at stake.   Recognizing that desegregation alone isn't enough to solve for equity, IntegrateNYC developed the 5 Rs of real integration.  They are: Race and Enrollment Resources Relationships Restorative Justice Representation of teachers and staff They argue that schools need to address all 5 Rs to achieve real integration, and work with the Department of Education (DOE) to enact policies that work towards that goal.   Karla and Jedidah walk us through all 5 Rs, while also sharing their own experiences being impacted by segregation. These youth leaders are passionate and inspiring, and remind us of the power of youth voice. LINKS:  The 5Rs of Real Integration Green v. County School Board of New Kent County Will Stancil on the Green Case from The Atlantic   INTEGRATED SCHOOLS WEBINAR: Please join us for our first ever webinar - The Integrated Schools Movement: Where We Begin, on July 13th, 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT.  It will feature 5 members of the Integrated Schools parent advisory board sharing stories of choosing global-majority schools for our kids, and what we've learned along the way.  We'll discuss how our schools got to where they are, and what we can do to push back.  It's free to register and will last roughly 60 minutes, with some time for Q&A afterwards.  Please share widely, and we hope to see you there.   NOTE: If you missed the webinar, registering will get you a link to the recording.   Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us - @integratedschls on twitter, IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced, edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey.