By Vanessa Williams

“All of you chose a topic that you really care about and that is important to the world.”

— Ellen Royse

On Thursday, April 11th, Capital City Public Charter School juniors took over teaching duties and facilitated workshops for their peers via the annual Capital City Youth Justice Summit. More than thirty workshops were presented on a variety of topics, including gun violence, outdoor education, and the climate crisis. Read on for a snapshot of the incredibly moving day of student-led workshops. 

Session 1: Police Brutality in DC 

For their session about police brutality, incarceration, and how they affect incarcerated peoples’ mental health, Amilyah, Dora, Jocelyn, Phoenix, and Elmer AC hooked participants into their workshop by having them share what they know about restorative justice. During their slideshow presentation, they shared jarring statistics about police officer-inflicted violence. They named how a victim’s mental health is often not taken into account during police encounters. They argued that police are the improper responders to mental health episodes. They are ineffective and dangerous for a person who is in need of peer support to keep from harming themselves and others. 

Session 2: Labor Justice

Bryan and Julissa engaged their workshop participants in learning about racism in wage inequality interactively through a board game they designed. At the beginning of the session, participants were given two different cards. One card designated a race, while the other noted a career and income. For example: 

• White

• Janitor making $35,000

They explained the game they designed was similar to Candyland, where players would begin at the same space on the game board they made, and pull game cards to advance — or take steps back. 

There were two games going simultaneously. After the timer beeped, marking the end of the ten allotted minutes, Bryan and Julissa had everyone note how much more the players at one table’s game pieces had advanced along the game board, especially compared to the degree to which players at the other table had not. Bryan and Julissa instructed each table to flip over their game-playing cards, and the visuals were striking and spot on — the cards were clearly stacked to advantage one group over another’s.

Session 3: Disability Justice

Vivienne and Marla focused on the barriers to receiving testing and diagnosing  neurodivergence. They began their workshop by having participants write down on a Post-It note what barriers do they imagine make it difficult to receive a diagnosis altogether, or what confounding variables would cause a misdiagnosis. They presented about invisible disabilities and how factors like racism, income inequality, and a centering of the English language in testing and other interactions with medical personnel, impact someone’s ability to receive a diagnosis altogether, especially a proper one. Every participant received a profile listing characteristics including income, race, language, and behaviors. Vivienne and Marla designated different parts of the room for workshop participants to self-select whether they believe they would receive a diagnosis, be misdiagnosed, or be ineligible to test altogether based on the demographics of their profile. 

Session 4: LGBTQ+ Justice

Genessis, Leiylah, Sindy, and Tiffany had PSAs drive much of their instruction about LGBTQ+ justice. They shared statistics about LGBTQIA+ school-aged youth, including the results of a poll from students at CCPCS about how much they know about LGBTQIA+ issues. Workshop participants then went to mini breakout sessions led by the four to learn more about legislation negatively impacting LGBTQIA+ youth. They shared examples of PSAs to help guide workshop participants in their final task of creating a PSA to raise awareness about anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation.

Session 5: Myanmar Conflict

Isai facilitated a compelling session about Myanmar. Workshop participants were asked what world conflicts they were aware of. After outlining a brief history of the region, explaining the national politics and the governing system, Isai shared about the tumultuousness that has rocked the nation and how it historically and presently feeds political instability and decreased economic opportunity. He noted that farmers and their land are targeted indiscriminately. He clearly framed the stakes for workshop participants, noting the implications of continued oppressive regimes remaining in power and access to material goods. He designed a game that helped participants further understand and empathize with folks like farmers in Myanmar, who seek to provide food for their families and communities and whose crop viability are at the mercy of whomever is in power.

Session 6: Food Apartheid/Food Education

Kamilla, Natnael, and Andrea composed the most well-attended workshop of the day, with more than 40 students participating in their session on food apartheid. They kicked off the session asking workshop participants what ingredients made food unhealthy and where food deserts are in D.C. After also gathering what participants knew about food apartheid, they defined it, and shared disheartening statistics about food apartheid in D.C., especially how the designed food deserts are heavily concentrated in wards 7 and 8. They zeroed in on the nutritional value of available foods and, to wrap up the session, facilitated a Snack Swap Challenge where groups of workshop participants ranked various snack foods by highest to lowest quality of nutritional value. Their exit ticket to workshop participants was to share — and further reflect — on how this session changed their diet and food choices.

Debrief

Student co-emcees rounded out the day as everyone — teachers, students, and guests — gathered back in the auditorium to reflect on the summit. Eleventh graders were seated throughout the auditorium, buzzing with excitement, relief, and reflection after completing this CCPCS rite of passage. During this time, they shared what they enjoyed about this Youth Justice Summit, gave one another shoutouts, and shared how they’d approach any aspect of their presentation. Everyone gathered in the cafeteria for ice cream and popsicles. 

Read about the 2023 Youth Justice Summit.
View all photos from the 2024 Youth Justice Summit.