LEARN Commission (2021 - 2023)
LEARN Commissioners, made up of local youth from across the midpeninsula area, headed up an effort to identify policy solutions to address systemic racism faced by our youth who are Black, indigenous, and/or people of color (BIPOC). During the pilot year of LEARN Commission the youth broke into sub commissions and presented four separate recommendations to their respective school/district leaders advocating for:
- The inclusion of annual microaggression trainings for staff and students;
- Increased mental health services;
- Inclusion of a new Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer in the student government; and
- Hiring a BIPOC councilor to join the all white counseling staff.
On August 6, 2020 YCS and Embarcadero Media co-hosted four local high school students and recent graduates spoke on a panel on Generation Z and social justice, moderated by award winning author and former Stanford University Dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising Julie Lythcott-Haims. This panel discussion (video to the right) was the foundation for starting the LEARN Commission.
This work was made possible with a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Community Fund.
