#hancockhs

Five neighborhood high school students plus a youth organizer form Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE) have a very rich discussion on the power of student voice and all the amazing ways students are finding that voice and using it.

Heaven Johnson, a junior at Lindblom Math and Science Academy, explains that she’s gained confidence as a youth leader and now knows that anything a teen wants to accomplish is possible. However, changing policy at the citywide level requires collaboration between teens and adults. 

Johnson continues, “Teens are sparkling with interest and innovative things but they never form these relationships with adults because adults only know the technicality behind things while the teens and activists don’t really know who to approach and who to talk to. But without this connection, we as teens would not be able to bridge the gap between teens and adults that cause miscommunication and not understanding each other. Through Mikva and other councils and projects like this, we want to bridge that gap and get teens and adults working together to reform issues in the city.”