Ideas This Week
Ideas This Week is your hub for updates on all things Facing History—from announcements and featured press to expert interviews, impact stories, and essays on the ideas driving our work.
LA Upstander: Prycilla M.
This year, our Student Upstanders group met weekly via Zoom every Friday at 8am. Prycilla always attends and is willing to share her ideas with everyone, but one of her best attributes is allowing others to also have a say and encouraging everyone in their individual passions.
LA Upstander: Alina R.
Alina is this year's president of SAMEAN (South Asian Middle Eastern Arab North African) Voices. An active member of the group for the last four years, as president this year she acted on the demands of the uprisings for racial and social justice from this summer in order to build community, raise awareness, and take action.
LA Upstander: Josue C.
Josue is one of those students teachers will always remember. From volunteering to read first to sharing his insights on social justice issues, Josue’s teachers can always count on him to lead discussion.
LA Upstander: Alexis A.
Knowing that words are very powerful, Alexis has used the power within his control to make a positive impact on those around him.
LA Upstander: Equity & Justice Team
After the murder of George Floyd, Marisa Del Pino and Jennifer Macon knew that more had to be done to combat systemic racism. Together, they pitched the idea of creating an Equity and Justice Initiative with the goal of understanding and confronting issues of systemic racism so that all students on campus can thrive in a learning environment where equity and justice prevail. Grover Cleveland Charter High School's principal, Cindy Duong supported the plan and established a team in August 2020 to carry out a three-year plan of action.
LA Upstander: In Lak'Ech Committee
Teachers created the In Lak'Ech (You Are My Other Me) Committee to create advisory lessons on topics such as allyship BLM, ABAR (Anti-Bias Anti-Racism), activism, public safety, and more.
LA Upstander: Facing History Student Leadership Club "See No Stranger" Book Club
Facing History students share key learnings and ideas with students from both Southern and Northern California, from various ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds.
LA Upstander: The Wonders of Having a Disability Club
The “dynamic duo” , Katy M. and Francia G., have excelled academically and worked diligently to not allow their educational disabilities to limit their education in any way, shape or form.
LA Upstander: Senior Memory Committee
This year, Esperanza College Prep graduates its first ever senior class! The Senior Memory Committee — Evi A., Gianella C., Esbeydi G., Brianna C., Mail G., Allison C., Maria G. —stepped up to plan, coordinate, and execute activities to mark this historical graduation.
LA Upstander: Ms. Jessica Guillaume
Ms. Guillaume has been an Upstander in the Valor Academy High School school community by volunteering to lead in-person small groups this Spring 2020.
LA Upstander: Abraham F.
Throughout distance learning, Abraham has sought to make learning more accessible to his peers. He has taken it upon himself to organize study groups, focusing on students who he knows are struggling and looking for additional support.
LA Upstander: SJLAM Teen Court
The SJLAM Teen Court Club participated in three court cases this year via Zoom. The impact on the defendant is sometimes quite evident at the trial itself. The impact on the families involved will be apparent over time. There is also impact for the Teen Court jurors - helping someone get on the right path is a feeling that is immeasurable.