In early March, students from across Connecticut gathered to testify at the Capitol for two bills that would require schools to include African American, Puerto Rican, and Latino studies in K – 12 schools statewide. The students represented several youth organizations, Citywide Youth Coalition, Connecticut Students for a Dream, Hearing Youth Voices, and Students for Educational Justice, with each organization being a member of the Connecticut Black and Brown Student Union (CT BBSU), a network of youth organizations that spans the state and organizational issue area.
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If passed, the curriculum of schools would more closely reflect the identities of the students, with 46% of Connecticut public school attendees being students of color; in addition this would be a major win for the collaborating organizations as they continue to build power together on a statewide level (1). Like the youth organizing occurring across the country, youth in Connecticut are catalyzing changes in their communities, including the Capitol.
See below for the list of media coverage, including the joint press release circulated by the represented organizations:
”Students Call for African-American And Latino Studies Curriculum” WNPR
”Students to Legislature: It’s Time to Undo Racism”, New Haven Arts Paper
- http://edsight.ct.gov/Output/District/HighSchool/0930011_201617.pdf