Champions for Youth

Written by: Danielle Guerin, AmeriCorps VISTA

“When I think about education, I feel it’s important that an individual grabs this opportunity. If not, I believe that they will not be prepared for the world around them. Education is a must in a world that is changing every day.”

That is one of the most poignant quotes that came out of Real Talk Remix, a youth roundtable discussion, which was held this past October. The event was held in partnership with WFYI’s American Graduate program. 16 youth, from 5^th to 12^th grade, came together to talk about education and what needed to be changed.

The youth came up with their  three biggest issues in school:

1. Structure of the education system
2. Teacher-student communication
3. Bullying and safety in schools

Attendees of Real Talk Remix had many suggestions for the improvement of their education experience. From concerns with student/teacher/counselor relationships, to student-student bullying issues to the overall structure of curriculum of schools, these youth believe we can do better. The youth who attended the event left with new ideas about what they could do to make their schools better. MCCOY came up with the following next steps:

•The Youth Advocacy Council will incorporate what they heard from peers into their working groups on education reform and bullying. They will advocate on these issues in the coming year through tracking legislation on the topics in the state legislature and hosting "listening sessions" for youth to voice their concerns on the issues of bullying and education reform.

• MCCOY will incorporate youth feedback into our 2013 Legislative Priorities of education, bullying, and youth violence. Focusing on the following priorities:

• Embrace a comprehensive evidence-based approach to prevent all forms of peer aggression, including bullying, gangs, dating violence and suicide that provide resources and training to all school personnel and that foster school environments and interactions that promote positive social skill development
• Re-engage disconnected youth and adults in education and career-focused opportunities

•If you'd like access to the full Real Talk Remix agenda and format to host your own Real Talk, email Danielle Guerin.

To view the full report, go here.