The Ones Left Behind

December 3, 2018

Teens Take Charge returned to the Brooklyn Central Library’s Dweck Cultural Center for an evening of testimony about the hundreds of thousands of students being left behind in New York City public schools. An estimated 250 guests packed into the auditorium, and dozens more watched a simulcast in the lobby. Seventeen students, including Youth Poet Laureate Camryn Bruno, told stories about inequitable access to sports and special education services, discrimination and bullying, resource disparities, unfair admissions policies, and lots more.

Following the student performances, adult experts Nikole Hannah-Jones, Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, and Lazar Treschan shared their own testimony and then took questions on a student-adult panel.

Finally, policy team members Coco Rhum and Lennox Thomas described our campaigns for high school admissions reform and democratic student representation before unveiling a comprehensive policy platform with more than two dozen recommendations divided into eight issue areas.

Group photo taken by Brent Adams

Toby Paperno describes how a diverse middle school experience helped him appreciate the privileges he had – and inspired him to advocate for the students who are being left behind. Photo by Julian Giordano

Tiffani Torres (left) and Sophie Mode (right) present spoken word testimony about the differences in their school experiences. Photo by Julian Giordano

Event emcee Sokhnadiarra Ndiaye kicked off the event by reflecting on the false promises of the American Dream. Photo by Julian Giordano

Muhammad Deen performed a spoken word piece about how schools just a few bus stops apart offer students vastly different opportunities. Photo by Julian Giordano

New York Times investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones shares her thoughts about school segregation in New York City.

Left to Right: Yousof Abdelreheem, Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, Hannah-Jones, Lazar Treschan, Coco Rhum, Muhammad Deen. Photo by Julian Giordano