Here we are again How Do You Like it So Far? fans! We continue with our two-part series from the 2019 Connected Learning Summit, which took place at the University of California, Irvine from October 3-5. The second installment is a panel with Henry and two youth activists Justin Scott, a student and artist who has worked alongside grass roots organizations such as Students Deserve, United Black Student Unions of California, and Black Lives Matters, and Jessica Riestra, a Senior from Sacramento State and Co-Director of March for Our Lives California. Their chat focused on youth-lead activism efforts, the difficulties of their work and how they use social media to their advantage. Scott discussed how media is varied nowadays and opened up new avenues for engagement in the youth activism sphere. He urged everyone to engage young people because they have first-hand experience in the classroom and unique experiences that can help shape and evolve discussions around education. Riestra examined what activism means for her and that it consists of standing up for one’s personal beliefs and taking a stance for those who may not be able to take a stance for themselves. Tune in as Scott and Riestra dissect the role of youth activists in today’s digital culture and call for the recognition of educators as the creators of spaces that explore the identities of young people and how their identities will interact with the world.
Here are some of the references from this episode, for those who want to dig a little deeper:
Henry’s book Participatory Culture – Interviews
Henry’s blog post in advance of the panel
Freddie Gray’s Death
Racist random search policies on campuses
Privatization of LAUSD
Students of color have a lower high school graduation rate
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Model United Nations (UN)
Share your thoughts via Twitter with Henry and Colin and also through email at annlab@usc.edu!
