Youth Empowerment School reflections

Ms. Cooper talks about her journey and we reflect on teaching at YES and in Oakland. And she reflects on her TED talk, endometriosis, and issues in health and medicine that black women experience.

Chloe was the first student in my class on my first day of teaching and a very important one to me. We reflect on YES and what the world is like these days, Chloe also talks about her journey as a student and also what I was like back in my early years.

Marquis talks about going to Maine to play college basketball and his role now mentoring and teaching at a middle school. He also talks about how he found his way to YES as a freshman.

Desmond reflects on his 1 year at YES, which was very interesting because it was a critical year. We talk about how we have grown from there and how the experience influenced us. He also shares aspects of systemic racism within the medical field.

Aquetea reflects on her journey. In it she offers valuable reflection on the challenges she has overcome, relevant criticism into math and science and the role those subjects often play as gatekeeper to black and brown first generation college students and also issues in black health. She also offers inspiring messages for future students who will face similar challenges.

Chico Ricardo Rivera Rico talks about how he ended up at YES and what it meant to him. And of YES being a school that gave a unique and transformative experience for its students.

Finally, in episode 6, we learn about Youth Empowerment School from the beginning from its founding principal. Maureen talks personally about what it took to get the school off of the ground and how it was positioned to fail. And offers a reminder of the many ways in which we were successful.

Eric talks about YES and UCLA and all of his experiences since graduation. We also talk about racial and generational divides.

Sameer and I try to put the pieces together of events that happened over a decade ago, without much success. But we also talk about education as an entire system and how it looks different in suburban schools vs. marginalized communities.

Lauren talks about being a student at YES and being a chef. She talks about all the work that goes into managing a business and all the things thats she has learned from it. And some about the war on drugs.