Silicon Valley Youth Foundation: Youth Journalism

I Am a Mural: The Experience of Being Multiracial

In the fourth grade, my two cousins and I were browsing the shelves to choose the pottery we wanted to paint “This one says ‘Made in China ’ Like you, Clarissa!” my cousin exclaimed I let out a faint fake laugh to hide the hurt and disbelief that went through my mind.

My mother is Mexican and my father is Chinese and Caucasian Growing up as a multiracial child, I felt like muddy paint water, with multiple pigments blended into one indistinguishable color. No one knows exactly what colors are in that water, or in this case, what ethnicities I am made up of. Attending a predominantly white elementary school, most students were surprised to hear that I am Mexican and Chinese I remember one of my classmates’ remarks: “What?! I thought you were white!” I myself was surprised to hear this as I have always felt I look mixed.

Each of my mom’s siblings married Mexican spouses Spending time with all my cousins who were full Mexican, I did not feel Latina enough beside them. And when I was with my dad’s side of the family, I felt too bronzed, although I really am not that tan My grandmother has even asked me how I identify myself as a multiracial person

I replied, “Mexican, Chinese, and Caucasian.” She was taken aback because she is proud to be Mexican and suggested that I should identify as Mexican only However, her comment did not change how I view myself I never felt shame or embarrassment that I am mixed I just felt different

There was a time when I felt like an outsider to my extended family The time my cousin related me to a ‘Made in China’ label. Hiding behind the hurt with an expressionless face and a faint fake laugh, I felt vulnerable. Fourth-grade me did not know how to stand up for myself.

Looking back, I wish I would have told him that his remark was inappropriate and hurtful. Because of the self-awareness I have learned from personal experience, I am able to stand up for myself now and enlighten others on how hurtful remarks can leave a scar I want to show ten-year-old me how special it truly is to come from a diverse background.

Before, I tried to blend in like the pigments that are dipped into muddy paint water which mesh into one color I could never fully “blend in” however because if I embraced one of my races, I felt that I was leaving the other two races behind.

by Clarissa

There was no specific instance that I went from feeling different to embracing my racial identity

Rather, over time I realized that the differences I felt are really the unique characteristics that make me, well, me I experienced the gift of individuality

A mural

That’s what I realized it feels like to be a multiracial individual. Being multiracial does not mean that you have to blend in to feel accepted It means you have the ability to appreciate your racial differences and recognize what a blessing they are I now embrace the different colored paints, or rather characteristics and uniqueness from my cultures.

When I look in the mirror and see myself, I see the beauty of my races intertwined

I appreciate my brown, almond-shaped eyes that help me to see the world, my dark, wavy hair that reminds me of my grandma, and my medium tan

with a yellow undertone that expresses both sides of my family’s ancestry

Trying to blend in–that has been done by many

But painting a mural of yourself incorporating your personal background is something unique and beautiful, just like you

by Clarissa

The Outdated Oath

The other day, I volunteered to pass out pizza at my high school football game Before the game started, everyone turned and started the pledge.

I stood there, dumbfounded, as everyone proudly recited this pledge they knew by heart I was unaware of this tradition, as I immigrated here seven years ago and had never attended a

football game until then

I felt a sense of exclusion for not relating to, knowing, or reciting the pledge like everyone else. However, I felt that some of the other people taking the pledge also didn’t fully identify with it; specifically, the “under God” part

by Freya

Many of my good friends have told me that they are atheists. Yet they go along with this pledge that doesn’t represent their beliefs. Why?

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Initially composed over a century ago in 1892 by a socialist Christian minister named Francis Bellamy, this pledge was intended to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America.

The original statement was meant to be used globally, for any country, to spread the United States’ ideals of democracy, as it did not specify to which flag a person was pledging. The initial line read as follows:

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

“Indivisible” references the unity achieved through the American Civil War, while “liberty” and “justice” represent core ideals of democracy However, three decades later, a key change was made

Instead of pledging to “my flag,” the speaker is pledging to “the Flag of the United States of America.”

After these two major revisions, the modern pledge of allegiance states:

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Although not legally required, many public and private schools still use the pledge today

Students cannot be forced to recite the pledge because that would violate their First Amendment freedom of speech, but there is still very much a social requirement. Another term to describe this phenomenon is peer pressure The peer pressure is so strong that no one complains about being incorrectly represented. The unspoken condition is, if you do not take the pledge, you are not truly American.

Representation is a pillar of the democracy that America holds so dear If I am not represented within this pledge, why should I pledge it? Why should I claim to be something I am not? I shouldn’t. I won’t. Either the contents of the pledge has to change to fit the vast diversity in this country, or the social culture has to change so that the people of America, me included, can comfortably express themselves, including their religion.

This edit was targeted at immigrants, to ensure their loyalty to the United States rather than their home country in a nationalistic, post-WW1 world.

In 1954, during the Cold War, President Eisenhower persuaded Congress to add “one nation under God” to the pledge in the face of Communism and for the sake of patriotism.

As for me, I appreciate the fact that the pledge of allegiance is not legally required and I will continue to speak against its current form until I feel comfortable vowing myself to the United States. Join me.

The next time you are in a situation where people are pledging allegiance to the flag, ask yourself:

Do I believe in these words?

by Freya

We Need to be Heard: The Mental Impacts of AAPI Hate

With the outburst of the widespread infection, COVID-19 has traumatized a lot of people. It has brought stress and struggles to a lot of us financially, mentally, or physically The Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community had a specific struggle as the rhetoric of the “Wuhan flu” or “China virus” spread. This led to racist slurs and physical attacks that sometimes even caused death.

There has been a great increase in racist assaults on the AAPI community in the United States Many AAPI individuals are afraid of going out of their house. They are often wary of any danger that is lurking around the corners of their path and fear that they will become the next target of a racially motivated attack

The pandemic has greatly impacted AAPI youth. It brought a heavy toll on their minds with constant stress or anxiety. According to a study conducted by L1ght, an organization devoted to protecting youth from online harassment, there was a 70% increase in cyberbullying during the pandemic among kids and teens on digital platforms. This is a huge growth of hate towards the AAPI youth.

L1ght also found a 900% increase in hate speech against China and Chinese people on Twitter, “with explicit tweets accusing Asians of being responsible for the coronavirus outbreak.”

Cyberbullying can cause the youth to feel and think in negative ways They can start to lose interest and motivation in life or feel lost in where they are supposed to be headed This can lead to negative emotions of depression, anxiety, stress, low self-

esteem, fear, and more Even after it is over, these feelings can linger for a very long time.

Cyberbullying can lead to many harmful and consequential effects on the victim, specifically on their mental health

The Stop AAPI Hate organization, in partnership with the National AAPI COVID-19 Needs Assessment Study developed a study to survey people who have encountered and reported hate crimes during COVID on their experience and the effects of the discriminations they faced

According to the respondents, 71.7% reported antiAsian discrimination to be their greatest source of stress, much higher than other pandemic concerns

Many AAPI individuals are worried about being wrongfully targeted over the spread of COVID-19. By stressing over potential racial discrimination, by Alice

youth and adults could lose balance in coping with their daily life

This could even lead to a decrease in their abilities to think and make good choices.

Currently, most schools and some workplaces have opened and people are returning back However, AAPI students and families are still concerned They worry about their welfare at school or work and some fear returning in person.

For example, my family tries to avoid going outside of our house for unnecessary reasons We try to protect ourselves as much as possible Everytime we go out of the door, we are very aware of any potential threats to us. We move quickly in and out of the house to keep ourselves away from the public eye

Most of my friends have pepper spray to protect themselves from unknown dangers on their way to work, school, or home.

They alway stick with each other when they can after school so that they can have extra protection Some others have decided to stay home and continue distance-learning as they are still feeling unsafe and frustrated to return.

The AAPI community continues to struggle and face challenges of racism directed at the community

As a whole, they are still feeling worried about their environment. Some people struggle to have a restful day working outside of their homes while others stress out about their plans to stay at home remotely working or learning

Although racism was an issue in our society before the pandemic, these serious incidents have shed light on the intensity of the situation We need to show more care and awareness for the community with support and comfort They need to be heard and they need support.

by Alice

The Man who Lived Across the Train Station

At the age of fifteen, I came to America with a picture of a country that was shaped by every single Hollywood movie I had watched with my mom back in Hong Kong I fantasized about the huge houses that line the clean, spacious streets where people would ride their bicycles

But the first thing that astonished me was the streets filled with homeless people. Between the tents and blankets that lay all over the ground, you could find people sleeping Above all, what shocked me the most were the people who passed by

homeless people apathetically. They didn’t seem to notice their existence.

At first, I tried to avoid homeless people as much as I could I chose to walk three more blocks to take the bus at the next station than going to the nearest one where I knew homeless people lived nearby.

Then, gradually, I also grew used to normalizing homelessness I ignored every tent, blanket, and empty cup that lay on the streets

by Sharon

Despite my attempts to ignore the homeless people, the image of homelessness was stuck in my head for a long time. During my sophomore year of high school I became responsible for picking up my sister from elementary school

Every day at four, I would walk to the station near my school and wait for the train that would bring me to her school. As I waited for the train, there was a man who would always catch my attention. The man was skinny and with a big beard on his face and lived outside the bar on the corner of the street

I remember the time when I lifted my head from my phone and found him sitting across the station with a blanket covering him from head to toe. Looking at him from a distance, he didn’t seem as hopeless as I expected, but rather chill and relaxed

Since then, observing this man became part of my daily routine. He was always sitting in the same position with his legs between his arms; always quietly staring at the road and everyone who walked by his side However, people on the street seemingly never paid attention to him They walked across him and his belongings as if they didn’t exist.

There were times when people stood right next to him for minutes without giving him any acknowledgement I realized how normalized homelessness had become and how I had also been ignoring the problem.

We never talked, nor did I see him ever talk to anyone. One time when a drunk man approached him and started yelling all kinds of unimaginable words at him. He didn’t respond. He looked down and waited, perhaps for the drunken man to leave or for someone to help

Seeing this interaction reminded me of something that I had taken for granted; the fact that he is just like me, a human, who deserves to be treated with dignity

He wasn’t there to cause any trouble, he just happened to be there, living his life.

When I looked at him, I thought of not only him but all the other homeless people whom I had ignored, complained about, or even some that I used to loathe I realized I was just lucky to be the one with a home at the end of the day.

The year when the pandemic started, my sister and my classes went online until we graduated from our schools I never saw the man again, but his image stuck with me long after I moved to another city.

I eventually realized he is just one of the 500,000 homeless people in the US; one of the 500,000 who are struggling to live

by Sharon

Nothing Personal

It was just another day of working at my job As I was walking toward the store I felt the cold breeze of a winter day I walked in, took off my headphones, and proceeded to clock in. I was a little tired, but still happy to be able to work because it gives my family some needed income to help me participate in debate I changed into my work uniform and got ready to help customers

I work at a suit shop. My first customer was looking to rent suits for a wedding. I thought that this would be fun. It was still a relatively new experience for me to help customers try on suits

I told my manager so that she could make sure everything was going well and I proceeded to ask the customer what kind of suit he was looking for. He wanted a blue suit, so I started taking his measurements

However, when I was in the middle of my measurements, he asked my manager, “Can you do it instead? I don’t want him measuring me for my wedding, maybe for the prom but not my wedding.”

He insisted that I didn’t have enough training. Although my manager said that she would make sure that I did it correctly, he insisted that she do it

He then said,”It’s nothing personal.”

“It’s alright,” I responded.

But it wasn’t alright His continued insistence that it was “nothing personal” made me believe that there was more to it.

It felt racially motivated. I could see the disgust in his eyes

by Zayne

I sensed that he didn’t like me because I was a Brown person in this affluent suit shop where the customers were primarily white and discrimination was normal.

This behavior fit into a pattern I had seen of white people pretending not to be racist or covering up their racist actions Oftentimes discriminatory actions like these get overlooked, but they continue to happen.

As someone who has experienced discrimination, I was able to realize it was yet another subtle form of white people being racist toward Brown people

Everywhere we go we are judged for our skin color, but this was the furthest I had seen it go. A man refused to work with me because of my skin color. It wasn’t just the racism, it was the power dynamic in the incident that troubled me I felt helpless and, after the continued insistence that it was “nothing personal,” I felt rage.

I had experienced the same thing before but was unable to act or do anything about it It was a man against a child, and a white customer against a Brown employee It was an abuse of privilege and disrespected me in every way.

He was a man yet still had no courtesy to respect me at all because he had all the power and I had none However, I couldn’t do anything at the moment so I just let it happen because, as an employee, the customer is always right.

It isn’t always like this

I had also helped a customer who was extremely nice. As two people from minority communities, we bonded over feeling out of place in this store. In a suit shop filled with mainly white people, people of color oftentimes feel alienated or left out

Throughout this experience, I felt a connection with the customer because we both felt the same way about the store. I was pleasantly happy with our conversation as I helped this customer find the shoes he wanted This positive experience made me feel a little better about the future of the world

As a community, we have become used to letting discrimination happen, but at times we have to stand up.

by Zayne

Representation In Film Still Shows The Inequality In Society

Good representation matters in film. Growing up, especially in these modern times, having media that reflects all identities is important to show children that it is okay to be yourself

All children should be able to see themselves in the heroes portrayed on the screen. Throughout the past years, superhero films have made an effort to shift away from just white guys, such as Superman and Iron Man Now, we see characters like Black Panther and Shang-Chi

According to a UCLA Newsroom report in 2011, more than 50% of films had casts with less than 11% diversity, compared to 2020, where just under 10% of films had that low level of diversity within the cast

This change is representative of the time, but, although it is progress, the way in which diversity is represented is inaccurate to the country in most cases

“Diverse” means variety, yet these supposedly diverse films are one dimensional. In these “diverse” superhero movies, there is a clear focus on a minority group.

This focus is good to show perspective, but the minority becomes the majority

There is little, if any, integration, which is not representative of the real world. In the real world, people of different races are present

by Leon

Integration is very important to show because it can lessen the feelings of the division between racial groups and helps to create the equal world that is talked about so often.

The roles that are given to non-white actors typically also aren’t “regular” roles There are almost no racially ambiguous roles that get given to non-white actors. How many roles played by a Black actor are not specially meant to be played by a Black person?

A handful

In an analysis by McKinsey & Company using reports from UCLA and their Center for Scholars & Storytellers, USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, Variety Insight by Variety Business Intelligence, and a Nielsen report, it was found that Black actors play only 11 percent of leading film roles and are often funneled to race-related projects, which typically receive lower investment in both production and promotion

Actors from diverse backgrounds have to play into their racial identity, often reducing them to their race. While it is important to feature diverse experiences and cultures, it keeps actors restrained to these works and does not allow them to rise to the same level as white actors who are able to show a full range of talent

The representation within diverse films is also not solely race. There is a correlation between characters of color and other minorities A study by GLAAD found that more LGBTQ characters are people of color than white

It is good to see racially diverse queer characters, however it makes me wonder if the people in charge are just checking off boxes.

As someone who falls into a range of different, unique boxes, I often find myself worrying about whether people are actually looking at me, or just the diverse quotas they can meet with me.

Do they want me for me or for my identities? On forms asking about my identities, I consider not responding to those questions, simply because I do not want that to affect others’ perceptions of me.

I know that in those instances sharing my diverse identities could benefit me, yet I still choose not to because I hate being reduced to a part of me that I have no control over

Embracing identities is one thing, simply appeasing people calling for equality and justice is another

People should not have to have their identity dictate their future. This is, at its core, what has been happening for many years, and some say we are past that just from statistics, but we are not.

The diversity we see in films today is still indicative of a past where people are segregated based solely on identity. Diversity needs to mean integration into a variety of films where actors can get cast not just because of their visible identity.

This is not justice, equality, or good representation

by Leon

Homelessness Requires A Solution, Not A “Bandage”

We all deserve the same opportunities. The color of our skin, how we look, or our income status does not define the person we are. I have lived on the coastside for over 15 years. It has been draining to see that the fight for adequate housing for the homeless community has gotten us nowhere in more than a decade. According to the Half Moon Bay website, “There were no homeless shelters on the San Mateo County coastside.” Having no shelters forces people to live in horrible conditions, especially during a pandemic My community has had different priorities over the past years and homelessness has never been on the top of the list. We are all worthy of stable, clean, and healthy homes to feel safe and protected. There has to be change. So much time has passed by and this is no longer an issue, but a necessity

Recently there has been some change in my community. The hotel called the Coastside Inn is being used as a shelter to help the homeless. The shelter provides rooms to the homeless in my community, but to those who also reside in San Mateo County It is currently the first and only shelter in San Mateo County which is located in Half Moon Bay. This hotel is a start to spread awareness and to provide more shelters within the community.

The shelter, called Coast House, is being operated by LifeMoves, a large non-profit organization that has a lot of experience with homeless service programs. The only downside from this development is that this shelter is only a temporary fix and has no intentions to be permanent.

The Coast House website states, “By providing personal privacy in individual rooms, the option for partners to be sheltered together, and maintaining

a connection with their home community on the coast, this emergency shelter will provide a safe resting place while program participants work on long term housing plans.” This fix is only a bandage to the huge wound, and it only keeps expanding There are still many people living on the streets, where they endure terrible weather and unsanitary conditions that are not fit to live in.

I love to see that my community is finally doing something to help the less fortunate, but there has to be something done that is more stable and fitting for everyone I understand issues like these aren’t easy to fix overnight, but more than a decade has passed and it seems like my community is still in the same place. LifeMoves is helping the homeless who move into temporary shelters like the Coast House to find permanent housing and essentially move away Why can’t there be permanent homes in town, close to the community they know? The homeless community might feel frightened to seek help due to the fact they’ll have to move away to get the proper housing they need Both the organization and my community have great intentions, but the execution is unsatisfactory

Shelters should be provided and placed within my town, and it is absolutely absurd that the Coast House is the first and only shelter being provided Bottom line: there should be more shelters and options available As a community, we can’t threaten to take everything away from someone in order to be able to help them. Safe, healthy, and proper housing should be accessible for all.

by Nancy

It’s Time to Focus on Hispanic Students: How Summit Public Schools Fail Historically Underserved Students

Summit Public Schools (SPS) boast an impressive four-year college acceptance rate of 96%, while Summit alumni complete college at twice the national average Summit’s college acceptance numbers look great at face value, however, the data on students who actually complete college tells a different story.

2021 Alumni Data showed that among the Summit classes of 2007-2014, white students were more than twice as likely to earn a four-year degree compared to Hispanic students. SPS claims that these trends closely mimic those of the national average in order to downplay the significant disparities in this data

Hispanic students make up nearly 50% of the Summit Public Schools student population and, despite some signs of progress, closing that gap remains a challenge

As the Hispanic student population grows, it is becoming more crucial that Summit Public Schools work to close the divide.

The first issue perpetuating this gap is the English Language Learners program, or rather the lack thereof. SPS uses a model of self-directed learning where students guide themselves through the online Summit Learning Platform while teachers act as facilitators

by Jovani

A majority of English Language Learners at Summit are heritage Spanish speakers – these students struggle to interpret the intricate platform on their own. The Summit Learning Program cannot be translated to Spanish so Hispanic students face a language barrier to navigate the curriculum. SPS lacks a strong program to support these students, and the lack of counseling and resources leaves Hispanic students with no one to turn to

While this is a major issue for English language learners, all Hispanic students at SPS face a much larger issue The lack of individualized education is an often overlooked problem in the Summit system While SPS likes to peddle that it provides a “personalized learning experience,” in reality, the Summit Learning program is a one size fits all curriculum that assumes every student starts at the same level, which is just not true Students at Summit schools do not get to select their own classes

Since SPS does not believe in tracking its students academically, each student is pushed through the same preselected set of courses

Hispanic students have historically faced barriers to higher education including resource-poor schools, parents with low household incomes and low levels of formal education, and a lack of quality teachers.

To assume that said students are at an equal level of education as their historically privileged peers is a set up for failure

It’s time that SPS focuses on Hispanic students. Charters claim to be a better alternative to the flawed public school system The fact that Hispanic students make up half of the student population at Summit schools but have the lowest bachelor’s degree completion rate of all students is a grave injustice. To close this gap, SPS needs to implement a strong language learners program that will support heritage Spanish speakers

Historically underserved groups of students should be given extra support through real personalized learning to reach the same success.

by Jovani

It’s The School’s Responsibility To Keep Us Fed

Thirteen million children (1 in 6) may experience food insecurity in 2021. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many students have faced hard times, battling depression, loneliness and so much more

One of the problems that has not been addressed on a bigger platform is student hunger. Many Americans have lost jobs during the pandemic. Many have faced challenges associated with the virus With breadwinners becoming sick and not being able to provide for their family in times of need, some families go hungry Students who miss meals struggle during class because they aren’t able to pay attention or stay focused. The constant thought of where their next meal will come from is stuck in their head Although California students had the opportunity to take advantage of reduced price lunches, not all could do so

This year, Half Moon Bay High School, along with most schools in California, offered free lunches to all students I was able to see first hand the benefits of this program Previously, high schools offered discounted lunch if your family fell in certain income levels. Most students were embarrassed or uncomfortable getting these discounts, believing people would judge them and their family’s financial struggles Now, many students take advantage of this new program When free lunch for everyone is normalized, there’s no more shame in using these resources, ensuring that students will be fed no matter their families’ income.

Student hunger was not just at our local level, but nationwide Many students across the country struggle to feed themselves

Students who work to pay for their own food face more problems. The average minimum wage across California is $14 an hour

The average minor does not work full-time, in order to leave time for homework, sports and more. A meal costs about $5 in a public high school in California – that can take a good chunk out of a starving student’s pocket Even if you have a reduced lunch, the cost still added up Now, with free lunch, students enjoy their meal and are able to focus in class.

While interviewing some students on the new lunch policies, we found nothing but joy Emma Steadman, a Senior at Half Moon Bay High School loved the idea, saying, “It makes everything equal for students without making those who maybe can’t afford lunch feel ostracized or different.” The years that students spend in high school are crucial times where you need proper nutrition to grow your mind along with your body

The success of this program in my community is amazing. My peers are now more focused and able to perform in class with the benefits from a single meal Seeing the joy and happy faces that come with a meal makes me want to see these programs implemented in schools nationwide. I believe that we need free school meals for all students.

by Julio

Environmental Science Class Should Be Mandated

Since 1880, the warmest temperature on Earth has been in 2016 and 2020 By the end of the 21st century, the water levels in the San Francisco Bay will rise by three to six feet.

Global warming and climate change is worsening by the day According to NASA, we only have 9 years to reverse the situation before it becomes irreversible Even if we are able to cut off our emissions, it will still take more than 1000 years to completely remove the devastating effect global warming has had on our planet (via the United Nations)

Jefferson Union School District should require environmental science to be a mandatory class in the high school curriculum because the course raises awareness about critical environment issues, teaches students to recognize environmental injustice in their personal lives and local communities, and encourages students to pursue future studies and careers in environmental science

Many students are unaware of the growing effects of climate change. Some don’t even believe that climate change exists

by Iris

In a survey conducted by the Brookings Institute, only 4% of students think they know a lot about climate change while 42% of students feel they learned very little or nothing at all about the topic in school And only 57% of students marked that they want to learn more about climate change.

When environmental science becomes a mandatory course for all students to take, students will realize how climate change is applicable in their personal lives and how it will affect their communities. When students become knowledgeable about this topic, they will see that climate change impacts what type of food they will eat and living conditions like weather and temperature

In the past years, the United States has faced many extreme weather conditions, such as floods in Texas, hurricanes in Louisiana, and the storms, wildfires, and droughts in California. Just this month, Daly City has experienced strong winds and pouring rains

The Bay Area received approximately 4.02 inches of rain in the fall of 2021. Students had trouble going to school and returning home under these circumstances

A mandatory environmental science course would allow students to understand why these storms happen and how to take proper action.

Lastly, the course could ultimately encourage and motivate students to pursue future studies or careers in the environmental science field.

According to The Guardian, around the world, more than 1.4 million young people took part in strikes for climate action.

Throughout the duration of this course our students will be inspired to take similar actions as they are encouraged to take part in community activities such as coastal clean ups, replanting damaged trees on sidewalks, or taking part in strikes for climate action

Students will take inspiration from what they learned in school and apply it to initiate their own projects in the field.

The class would also provide a great opportunity for students to hear from professional guest speakers about the current opportunities being offered and ways they can get involved.

Weighing the many benefits of the course, Jefferson Union High School District should mandate environmental science as a required course so that students will be made aware of the issue, recognize how the issue impacts their personal lives, and be encouraged to pursue future studies in climate change.

Climate change is happening now and affecting everyone’s lives – from the weather we live under to the streets we walk on – so take action now by starting a petition to mandate environmental science as a required course at the Jefferson Union High School District

by Iris

ThankYou

2021 - 2022 Cohort

This project was funded by Silicon Valley Community Foundation

All art and photographs created or curated by youth participants.