Leaders have noted that education remains the greatest civil rights issue of our time. But when it comes to our K-12 education system, change does not come easy. There is still so much work to do to make our education system more just and equitable for all students especially for Black and Latino students, students with disabilities and students from low income backgrounds. However, as with most decisions, education reform has always been dominated by adult thoughts and recommendations, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Join student advocates with The Education Trust in Tennessee for the launch of the EmpowerED Network, a statewide network focused on amplifying the voices of historically underrepresented students in Tennessee. We’ll host monthly sessions to equip students with necessary tools to understand and advocate on education policy and justice issues. At our kick-off event, we’ll spend some time getting to know each other with engaging activities led by League Leaders, EmpowerED’s student advisory board. Then, we’ll dig in and learn about the historic achievement and opportunity gaps that persist in our schools across the nation and in our state. We’ll also feature an incredible line-up of adult allies who will help us learn about the challenges and opportunities we face when it comes to ensuring educational justice in Tennessee.

If you are a student, education advocate or practitioner, come learn with us and join our movement for education justice in Tennessee. We are building a movement, are you with us?