( ENSPIRE Community Spotlight ) Youth Leadership, Civic Advocacy, and the Fight to Preserve Community at the 55th Legislative Caucus Conference
On Valentine’s Day weekend, Girls With Knowledge continued its annual tradition of bringing students to the 55th Annual Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus Conference in Albany. Still, this year’s experience carried special significance. Besides attending the conference, students from P.S. 287 were empowered to advocate for their school and community amid a proposed development plan that would directly impact them.
The proposed development would require the demolition of their current school building, forcing students to be relocated during construction. Students and parents have expressed deep concerns about losing their school community, their friendships, and the sense of stability that comes with attending their neighborhood school, concerns that are often central in redevelopment debates when long-standing institutions are replaced or relocated.
While in Albany, the students met with state leaders, including Senator Kevin Parker, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and their Assemblywoman Phara Souffrant Forrest. They spoke passionately about preserving their school community and ensuring their voices are heard in decisions that affect them.
Participants were also part of the Caucus’s Youth Summit, Legacy Forward: Transferring the Legacy Forward, where they performed and captured the full attention of stakeholders in the room. During their presentation, they discussed the work they have been doing with Girls With Knowledge at their school, focusing on entrepreneurship and sustainability. The students ended their presentation with one powerful message: they do not want decisions to be made for them without them.
Girls With Knowledge Founder Marcelle Lashley-Kaboré shared:
“At Girls With Knowledge, we believe young people deserve a seat at the table when decisions are being made about their schools and their futures. This weekend was about empowering P.S. 287 students to use their voices, speak their truth, and advocate for the community they love. Watching them confidently engage with elected officials showed exactly why youth leadership matters. When we invest in our children’s voices, we strengthen our democracy.”
Through this experience, the students not only participated in a major statewide conference but also witnessed firsthand the power of advocacy, leadership, and civic engagement.
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