Young People Share Stories From the Pandemic In National Urban League's Provocative New Film Series
IN NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE’S PROVOCATIVE NEW FILM SERIES, “EMERGING VOICES FROM THE PANDEMIC: STUDENTS SPEAK OUT,” YOUNG PEOPLE SHARE THEIR STORIES ABOUT NAVIGATING COVID-19 NIGHTMARE
Webinar on Thursday Features Behind-The-Scenes Conversation with Students Who Participated
NEW YORK (October 26, 2021) – When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools across the country to shift to remote and online learning, millions of vulnerable students fell off the grid. Many were too busy caring for siblings to log in; others went to work to support their struggling families. And many simply lacked adequate internet access.
Emerging Voices from the Pandemic: Students Speak Out is a one-of-a-kind, 13-part film series that tells the story of these “disconnected” students in their own words.
Each five-minute video pairs a disconnected student with one who managed to stay connected, who their hopes, fears, joys, and frustrations about living through the historic COVID-19 pandemic as high school students. Their conversations are packed with actionable recommendations for policymakers, administrators, youth development specialists, and adults who interact with young people.
The students who participated will share their behind-the-scenes observations during a webinar on Thursday, October 28, at 2pm, Eastern Time. Registration for the webinar is available at the following link: https://bit.ly/3pMOH1w
Shortly after schools transitioned to remote and online learning, reports began to emerge about missing students. One estimate from the nonprofit research organization Bellwether Education Partners, placed the number as high as 3.1 million. Another report, by Georgetown University’s FutureEd think tank, found that student absences hit unprecedented levels, with some students absent as much as half the year.
In an effort to determine how best to re-engage these students and make the nation’s educational system more responsive and conducive to effective learning, the National Urban League wanted to center and uplift the voices of students. Working with affiliates participating in its signature education initiative, Project Ready and members of the National Urban League Youth Council, the organization identified 26 high school students from eight cities and seven states across the country to tell their stories and share their experiences of learning during the pandemic. They are:
- Atlanta, Georgia – Charmaine, Charniece, Dasja, Rachel, Salena, Justice, and Thomas
- Indianapolis, Indiana – Chiwetara (Tara)
- Knoxville, Tennessee – Faith, Parker, Jahneulie, and William
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Alyssa, Jadin, Abdullah, and Teia
- San Diego/Oceanside, California – Aaron, Angel, Joel, Esther, Jade, Dulce, and Aayren
- Rochester, New York – Sara
- Springfield, Illinois – Akyra and Collin
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. The National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its 91 local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people annually nationwide. Visit www.nul.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @NatUrbanLeague.