Leadership Enactment of Students of Color Providing a “Youth Undoing Institutional Racism” Training

Abstract

This paper addressed the topic of youth leadership enacted by students of color. Current research speaks to the potential youth leadership can have in creating systemic change and school reform. However, racism perpetuates inequities and limits the opportunities students might have in leadership development opportunities within the conventional school democratic participation system for students. In my pilot study I examined the questions (1) How do groups of low-income, students of color, enact their leadership in providing professional development to their own teachers and staff? and (2) How do youth leaders describe their motivations and development as leaders in this context? I used data from student group interviews, documents, and observations to build three emergent themes. This study helped provide an understanding of the implications that conversations examining systemic racism can have for youth and teachers.