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I Have Spent My Life Uplifting the Voices of My Peers

In this guest post, Emerge Scholar Amari Roberts shares the importance of giving young people a seat at the table. 


Young dark-skinned woman in a green graduation gown

By Whitney Stoepel-Brewer

August 25, 2021

Adults often do not believe young people have much to offer, but I’m here to tell you that is completely wrong. The problem is that the voices of young people are left out of the room with the people who are making the important decisions. Young people need to be invited to share their opinions, experiences, and thoughts about the topics at hand, especially at school. In these exclusive spaces, decisions are made about school rules that affect what they learn, how they dress, how they are disciplined, how they are taught, and what social and emotional support they may need. But why is it that young people are not put into these rooms to share their voices with the decision makers? Their voices matter just as much as anyone else's. This is their education. They should have a say in the way that they are taught because at the end of the day, everyone wants the next generation to become the best version of themselves.

“Adults often do not believe young people have much to offer, but I’m here to tell you that is completely wrong.”

Amari Roberts

2021 Emerge Scholar

I have always been passionate about including the voices of me and my peers. As a young girl entering the sixth grade, I knew I wanted to be able to make sure my peers and I had a voice when it came to what affected us at school. I decided to create a student body that talked with school officials about what affected us as students.  I petitioned for my school to create a student council that collaborated with one of my teachers, who also believed that the school should have a strong student voice. As a collective, we were able to start an election and have students from each grade run for different positions within the student council. As students, we got the chance to make recommendations, pitch ideas, and voice concerns on topics that concerned us. As a student council, we generated ideas with the teachers, staff, and students.

We were able to plan events that students wanted but most importantly, we were able to pave the way for the many students that came after us. Spearheading the student council was the start to my journey of supporting, encouraging, and empowering youth to insert their voices into spaces that concern them and spaces that may affect those they love and care about. I am truly passionate about being an advocate for youth and also creating spaces for them to get the support that they need.

 

“Spearheading the student council was the start to my journey of supporting, encouraging, and empowering youth to insert their voices into spaces that concern them.”

Amari Roberts

Emerge Scholar

I also participated in the Chicago Housing Authority Youth Council which partnered with Mikva Challenge in 10th through 12th grade. I was able to connect with 20 other young adults from the Chicagoland area who wanted to be a part of a council who had the chance to speak directly with the CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority. The Chicago Housing Authority youth residents were able to make recommendations directly to the CEO and we shared our experiences and how we believe that we could make CHA a better resource to its residents and those who wanted to partner with them. We were also given the platform to educate other CHA residents regardless of their ages. We were given the chance to use our experiences as Chicago Housing Authority youth residents to come up with great ideas that would support youth when it came to their safety, their mental and emotional health, and their educational support. 

I am now a sophomore in college and even though I feel like I lost some opportunity to uplift youth voices due to the pandemic, I have still found some ways to empower, encourage, and support youth who want to insert their voices in rooms where they belong. I was able to be an intern for one of Mikva Challenge’s youth focused programs, the Neighborhood Leadership Initiative (NLI). NLI is a leadership program for 13-15 year old youth living or going to school in North Lawndale, Gage Park, and New City/Back of the Yards. Each session, youth get to know each other, engage in community-building games, and discuss and research issues around violence in their neighborhood. The ultimate goals are to gain leadership skills and meet with adult leaders, such as aldermen, to include youth voice in the changes they want to see in their communities. I feel so proud to have been involved with the Mikva Challenge because it has allowed a space for young people to be able to connect with decision makers in their neighborhoods such as their aldermen.

“Even though I feel like I lost some opportunity to uplift youth voices due to the pandemic, I have still found some ways to empower, encourage, and support youth who want to insert their voices in rooms where they belong.”

Amari Roberts

Emerge Scholar

I plan to spend the rest of my life fighting to include youth voices into the exclusive spaces where decisions are being made that affect them. I will also always encourage young people to be involved more in their communities and empower them to create a change. I know it is a powerful feeling to see their experiences, opinions, recommendations, and personal story matter in their community and make a difference.

 

Amari Roberts completed her internship with Teach For America in the summer of 2021 as part of the Emerge Summer Career and Leadership Program powered by Invest for Kids and Chicago Scholars.