The Power of Student Voice: The LEV 2022 Virtual Event

Thursday, October 13, 2022
11:30 AM PDT

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Celebrate the Power of Student Voice!

Watch the recording here (captions are available in English, Spanish, and Somali)

Students know best when it comes to reimagining our education system. And they are not afraid of speaking up to address the many areas of inequity.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Virtual Event on October 13, 2022 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for an online statewide FREE convening to celebrate the brilliance and the advocacy efforts of Washington students.

We also presented awards to students who inspire us, students who take on the system, and who create change. View the finalists here.

Confirmed Speakers

Ivy Pete, Activist and Freshman at Yale University

Ivy graduated in June from North Central High School in Spokane and participated in several LEVinars. She has been involved in advocacy and activism regarding the elimination of race-based mascots, Indigenous land conservation, equity in education, and civic engagement.

Watch a KXLY news report about Ivy’s work

We profile Ivy in our 2021-2022 Annual Report.

Dana Miles, 2023 Washington state Teacher of the Year

Dana has been a teacher for 11 years, the last six of which she has taught Work Experience and Applied Bilingual Language Arts (BLA) at the Washington School for the Deaf, located in Vancouver, WA.

In Dana’s Applied Bilingual Language Arts classes, she teaches English and American Sign Language interchangeably, preparing students for life after high school using real-world contexts like housing (such as comparing costs and types of housing), transportation (including bus training, directions, and car shopping), and more.

Brenda Yepez, Co-Founder of ALAS

Brenda is one of the founders of a student group called the Ambassadors of Lakeview Achieving Success (ALAS) in Pasco, which began her advocacy journey. Brenda attended our Tri-Cities Student Legislative Roundtable in December 2017, where students spoke with legislators about their community work, and she testified at the State Board of Education January 2018 meeting to ask for additional supports for English Language Learner (ELL) students.

In addition to advocating for the Dream Act in Washington D.C., Brenda herself is a DACA student who graduated from the Washington State University Richland campus.

Adar Abdi, Director of Community Outreach for the Washington state Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC)

Adar is a senior at Evergreen High School in Highline Public Schools, Running Start student at South Seattle College, and current King County Equity Cabinet member.

Kaleeya Baldwin, a junior at Lumen High School in Spokane

Kaleeya is leading efforts to incorporate photography courses and other electives into schools across Washington state.