A Day In Our Shoes

May 17, 2018

On the 64th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, 27 education policymakers, including six elected officials, took part in morning school visits at 21 schools across four boroughs. They met with students, sat in on classes and discussed issues of race and equity in our schools.

At 1:00 p.m., a group of 76 policymakers, students, and educators joined us for a luncheon to commemorate the anniversary with a commitment to action. In addition to several student leaders, we heard inspiring words from NYC DOE chief operating officer Ursulina Ramirez, NAACP Legal Defense Fund senior counsel Rachel Kleinman and City Council Member Ritchie Torres.

More than 40 adults signed commitment cards to meet with Teens Take Charge student leaders, share our Enrollment Equity Proposal and/or host focus groups with high school students in their districts before the end of 2018.

Teens Take Charge members were joined by lots of adult policymakers, including professors Amy Hsin (left) and Maya Wiley, two members of the School Diversity Advisory Group's executive committee.

Guests listen intently to student presenters at the luncheon.

Left to right: Principal Henry Zymeck, TTC facilitator Taylor McGraw, Panel for Educational Policy member Michael Kraft, TTC policy team leader Jorge Morales, Councl Member Helen Rosenthal

Teens Take Charge leader Dulce Marquez speaks at the #StillNotEqual press conference on the steps of Tweed Courthouse.

Lead event planner Muhammad Deen delivers a spoken word piece titled "School Segregation" to end the luncheon.