it was back-to-school night and I was sitting on a curb while my students at
sitting on a curb while my students at
sitting on a curb while my students at handcuffed in the back of a police car
handcuffed in the back of a police car
handcuffed in the back of a police car keevon had gotten into a fight with a
keevon had gotten into a fight with a
keevon had gotten into a fight with a student from another school and it had
student from another school and it had
student from another school and it had been severe enough to land that student
been severe enough to land that student
been severe enough to land that student in the hospital as we spoke to each
in the hospital as we spoke to each
in the hospital as we spoke to each other through the window I kept saying
other through the window I kept saying
other through the window I kept saying over and over again how difficult it was
over and over again how difficult it was
over and over again how difficult it was to see him in this situation
to see him in this situation
to see him in this situation and he kept responding over and over
and he kept responding over and over
and he kept responding over and over again Carrie it’s fine I’m okay
again Carrie it’s fine I’m okay
again Carrie it’s fine I’m okay this happens to everyone at some point
this happens to everyone at some point
this happens to everyone at some point we were only a few feet away from each
we were only a few feet away from each
we were only a few feet away from each other but the realities that shaped us
other but the realities that shaped us
other but the realities that shaped us were worlds apart being arrested doesn’t
were worlds apart being arrested doesn’t
were worlds apart being arrested doesn’t happen to everyone at some point but it
happen to everyone at some point but it
happen to everyone at some point but it does happen disproportionately to youth
does happen disproportionately to youth
does happen disproportionately to youth in foster care particularly if they’re
in foster care particularly if they’re
in foster care particularly if they’re black or brown while charges were not
black or brown while charges were not
black or brown while charges were not pressed against even that night just a
pressed against even that night just a
pressed against even that night just a few short months later he got into
few short months later he got into
few short months later he got into another altercation this time involving
another altercation this time involving
another altercation this time involving guns he was arrested and is now in jail
guns he was arrested and is now in jail
guns he was arrested and is now in jail awaiting trial
awaiting trial
awaiting trial keevon was one of the first students at
keevon was one of the first students at
keevon was one of the first students at Rhys high a new educational model that
Rhys high a new educational model that
Rhys high a new educational model that would end up serving students from a
would end up serving students from a
would end up serving students from a wide variety of backgrounds but that was
wide variety of backgrounds but that was
wide variety of backgrounds but that was built with the specific and unique needs
built with the specific and unique needs
built with the specific and unique needs of homeless and foster youth in mind
of homeless and foster youth in mind
of homeless and foster youth in mind keevon is gifted in math he’s a
keevon is gifted in math he’s a
keevon is gifted in math he’s a compelling communicator and he made
compelling communicator and he made
compelling communicator and he made incredible academic progress in the six
incredible academic progress in the six
incredible academic progress in the six short months that he was with us but he
short months that he was with us but he
short months that he was with us but he hadn’t always done well in school he’d
hadn’t always done well in school he’d
hadn’t always done well in school he’d bounced from group home to group home in
bounced from group home to group home in
bounced from group home to group home in school to school had been separated from
school to school had been separated from
school to school had been separated from his mom and his siblings and lost a lot
his mom and his siblings and lost a lot
his mom and his siblings and lost a lot of class time in the transitions despite
of class time in the transitions despite
of class time in the transitions despite all of these challenges he blamed his
all of these challenges he blamed his
all of these challenges he blamed his his poor academic record primarily on
his poor academic record primarily on
his poor academic record primarily on himself I saw a different story
himself I saw a different story
himself I saw a different story all kids including homeless and foster
all kids including homeless and foster
all kids including homeless and foster youth
youth
youth need to learn complex problem-solving
need to learn complex problem-solving
need to learn complex problem-solving skills they need to understand the ideas
skills they need to understand the ideas
skills they need to understand the ideas of power and responsibility and how
of power and responsibility and how
of power and responsibility and how those concepts can build or crush entire
those concepts can build or crush entire
those concepts can build or crush entire civilizations communities and families
civilizations communities and families
civilizations communities and families they need to know that there is an order
they need to know that there is an order
they need to know that there is an order of sorts to this world and that numbers
of sorts to this world and that numbers
of sorts to this world and that numbers and formulas help us make sense of that
and formulas help us make sense of that
and formulas help us make sense of that order and of the relationship between
order and of the relationship between
order and of the relationship between living and nonliving things kids have to
living and nonliving things kids have to
living and nonliving things kids have to be in school to learn this but
be in school to learn this but
be in school to learn this but unfortunately being just a student with
unfortunately being just a student with
unfortunately being just a student with school as the top priority is a
school as the top priority is a
school as the top priority is a privilege that many of our youth don’t
privilege that many of our youth don’t
privilege that many of our youth don’t get homeless and foster youth don’t have
get homeless and foster youth don’t have
get homeless and foster youth don’t have the same infrastructure or support
the same infrastructure or support
the same infrastructure or support systems as traditional students which
systems as traditional students which
systems as traditional students which makes it difficult for them to position
makes it difficult for them to position
makes it difficult for them to position school as the primary focus in their
school as the primary focus in their
school as the primary focus in their lives or even to attend class regularly
lives or even to attend class regularly
lives or even to attend class regularly there isn’t always an adult who can
there isn’t always an adult who can
there isn’t always an adult who can drive them to an appointment three meals
drive them to an appointment three meals
drive them to an appointment three meals a day aren’t guaranteed nor is access to
a day aren’t guaranteed nor is access to
a day aren’t guaranteed nor is access to a shower or a consistent roof over their
a shower or a consistent roof over their
a shower or a consistent roof over their head some of our kids meet with their
head some of our kids meet with their
head some of our kids meet with their attorneys and go to court at least once
attorneys and go to court at least once
attorneys and go to court at least once per month and many have sole financial
per month and many have sole financial
per month and many have sole financial responsibility of themselves yet they’ve
responsibility of themselves yet they’ve
responsibility of themselves yet they’ve been placed in the position over and
been placed in the position over and
been placed in the position over and over again where the adults around them
over again where the adults around them
over again where the adults around them make their life decisions for them often
make their life decisions for them often
make their life decisions for them often without ever asking their opinion on the
without ever asking their opinion on the
without ever asking their opinion on the matter in addition to the grown-up
matter in addition to the grown-up
matter in addition to the grown-up responsibilities they take on many are
responsibilities they take on many are
responsibilities they take on many are carrying grief and trauma as a result of
carrying grief and trauma as a result of
carrying grief and trauma as a result of the multiple transitions or because
the multiple transitions or because
the multiple transitions or because they’ve been the target of physical or
they’ve been the target of physical or
they’ve been the target of physical or emotional abuse they often lack the
emotional abuse they often lack the
emotional abuse they often lack the skills they need to cope with stress and
skills they need to cope with stress and
skills they need to cope with stress and then being emotionally overloaded or
then being emotionally overloaded or
then being emotionally overloaded or seeing little future for themselves they
seeing little future for themselves they
seeing little future for themselves they can make reactionary short-sighted
can make reactionary short-sighted
can make reactionary short-sighted decisions all the while classes teachers
decisions all the while classes teachers
decisions all the while classes teachers homework and the pathway that education
homework and the pathway that education
homework and the pathway that education offers all of us retreats farther and
offers all of us retreats farther and
offers all of us retreats farther and farther into the background when we
farther into the background when we
farther into the background when we created rise we spent over a year
created rise we spent over a year
created rise we spent over a year interviewing homeless and foster youth
interviewing homeless and foster youth
interviewing homeless and foster youth what they shared with us reaffirmed our
what they shared with us reaffirmed our
what they shared with us reaffirmed our hypothesis that they needed a different
hypothesis that they needed a different
hypothesis that they needed a different model first they said that school felt
model first they said that school felt
model first they said that school felt irrelevant to and dismissive of their
irrelevant to and dismissive of their
irrelevant to and dismissive of their current reality and future goals second
current reality and future goals second
current reality and future goals second they said that school was disconnected
they said that school was disconnected
they said that school was disconnected from their social circles and their
from their social circles and their
from their social circles and their interests and third they said they were
interests and third they said they were
interests and third they said they were tired of their voices not being taken
tired of their voices not being taken
tired of their voices not being taken into account and that they felt this
into account and that they felt this
into account and that they felt this happened primarily due to a lack of
happened primarily due to a lack of
happened primarily due to a lack of trusting relationships with the adults
trusting relationships with the adults
trusting relationships with the adults in charge ultimately kids want a school
in charge ultimately kids want a school
in charge ultimately kids want a school that is relevant to their lives and
that is relevant to their lives and
that is relevant to their lives and responsive to their needs and that’s
responsive to their needs and that’s
responsive to their needs and that’s what rise high strives to be being
what rise high strives to be being
what rise high strives to be being relevant and responsive means that our
relevant and responsive means that our
relevant and responsive means that our students don’t have to check certain
students don’t have to check certain
students don’t have to check certain parts of their identity or experience at
parts of their identity or experience at
parts of their identity or experience at the door all of who they are is welcome
the door all of who they are is welcome
the door all of who they are is welcome most homeless and foster youth have
most homeless and foster youth have
most homeless and foster youth have experienced trauma abuse neglect
experienced trauma abuse neglect
experienced trauma abuse neglect rejection loss of a parent or sibling
rejection loss of a parent or sibling
rejection loss of a parent or sibling the list goes on aggressive acts like
the list goes on aggressive acts like
the list goes on aggressive acts like kievans
kievans
kievans are expressions of this grief and trauma
are expressions of this grief and trauma
are expressions of this grief and trauma of the loss that they’ve felt when the
of the loss that they’ve felt when the
of the loss that they’ve felt when the adults at school don’t receive adequate
adults at school don’t receive adequate
adults at school don’t receive adequate training to respond to these expressions
training to respond to these expressions
training to respond to these expressions kids continue to be penalized for the
kids continue to be penalized for the
kids continue to be penalized for the pain they’ve experienced this is why all
pain they’ve experienced this is why all
pain they’ve experienced this is why all staff at Ryze received training in
staff at Ryze received training in
staff at Ryze received training in trauma informed care and restorative
trauma informed care and restorative
trauma informed care and restorative justice this challenges us to always
justice this challenges us to always
justice this challenges us to always seek the why behind our students
seek the why behind our students
seek the why behind our students behaviors and moves us toward an
behaviors and moves us toward an
behaviors and moves us toward an environment where they can begin to heal
environment where they can begin to heal
environment where they can begin to heal from the trauma they’ve experienced
from the trauma they’ve experienced
from the trauma they’ve experienced rather than continue to be punished
rather than continue to be punished
rather than continue to be punished because they haven’t yet learned to cope
because they haven’t yet learned to cope
because they haven’t yet learned to cope with it appropriately it also means that
with it appropriately it also means that
with it appropriately it also means that we take responsibility for the growth
we take responsibility for the growth
we take responsibility for the growth and learning of the whole child not just
and learning of the whole child not just
and learning of the whole child not just their academics throughout this process
their academics throughout this process
their academics throughout this process there is constant modeling of
there is constant modeling of
there is constant modeling of self-regulation and conflict resolution
self-regulation and conflict resolution
self-regulation and conflict resolution so that our kids can begin to see what
so that our kids can begin to see what
so that our kids can begin to see what healthy relationships look like in order
healthy relationships look like in order
healthy relationships look like in order to respond to their holistic needs we
to respond to their holistic needs we
to respond to their holistic needs we co-locate with service providers and we
co-locate with service providers and we
co-locate with service providers and we have a dedicated employee on staff whose
have a dedicated employee on staff whose
have a dedicated employee on staff whose sole focus is student services this
sole focus is student services this
sole focus is student services this ensures that kids maximize time spent
ensures that kids maximize time spent
ensures that kids maximize time spent learning instead of navigating as
learning instead of navigating as
learning instead of navigating as social service infrastructure that can
social service infrastructure that can
social service infrastructure that can feel really overwhelming and often takes
feel really overwhelming and often takes
feel really overwhelming and often takes them out of class in order to be
them out of class in order to be
them out of class in order to be responsive to our students we first have
responsive to our students we first have
responsive to our students we first have to know our students and what we know is
to know our students and what we know is
to know our students and what we know is that 40% of homeless youth in Los
that 40% of homeless youth in Los
that 40% of homeless youth in Los Angeles identify as LGBTQ when schools
Angeles identify as LGBTQ when schools
Angeles identify as LGBTQ when schools fail to support their identity
fail to support their identity
fail to support their identity development or demonstrate a lack of
development or demonstrate a lack of
development or demonstrate a lack of commitment to their physical or
commitment to their physical or
commitment to their physical or emotional safety kids start to wonder if
emotional safety kids start to wonder if
emotional safety kids start to wonder if there’s any part of them that can fit
there’s any part of them that can fit
there’s any part of them that can fit into the school or into the larger world
into the school or into the larger world
into the school or into the larger world because we know that if kids don’t feel
because we know that if kids don’t feel
because we know that if kids don’t feel safe they don’t learn we train our staff
safe they don’t learn we train our staff
safe they don’t learn we train our staff to create safe and brave spaces we also
to create safe and brave spaces we also
to create safe and brave spaces we also know that 50% of foster youth are black
know that 50% of foster youth are black
know that 50% of foster youth are black or Latino yet the majority of curriculum
or Latino yet the majority of curriculum
or Latino yet the majority of curriculum taught in schools still reflects white
taught in schools still reflects white
taught in schools still reflects white dominant narratives that omit the
dominant narratives that omit the
dominant narratives that omit the history and achievement of people of
history and achievement of people of
history and achievement of people of color at Ryze we strive to build a
color at Ryze we strive to build a
color at Ryze we strive to build a curriculum that is culturally relevant
curriculum that is culturally relevant
curriculum that is culturally relevant and that reflects the identities and
and that reflects the identities and
and that reflects the identities and experiences of our kids through
experiences of our kids through
experiences of our kids through project-based real-world learning our
project-based real-world learning our
project-based real-world learning our students begin to engage with issues and
students begin to engage with issues and
students begin to engage with issues and topics that are important to them they
topics that are important to them they
topics that are important to them they redesign city blocks by graphing linear
redesign city blocks by graphing linear
redesign city blocks by graphing linear functions and studying the environmental
functions and studying the environmental
functions and studying the environmental impact of local businesses they create
impact of local businesses they create
impact of local businesses they create meal plans for themselves and their
meal plans for themselves and their
meal plans for themselves and their families in response to local food
families in response to local food
families in response to local food providers and they write letters to
providers and they write letters to
providers and they write letters to elected officials proposing policy
elected officials proposing policy
elected officials proposing policy changes around the food deserts in their
changes around the food deserts in their
changes around the food deserts in their neighborhood through meaningful work
neighborhood through meaningful work
neighborhood through meaningful work they begin to enjoy learning and to see
they begin to enjoy learning and to see
they begin to enjoy learning and to see the tangible ways they can change their
the tangible ways they can change their
the tangible ways they can change their world
world
world unfortunately Kevin’s story is not
unfortunately Kevin’s story is not
unfortunately Kevin’s story is not unique
unique
unique seventy percent of California inmates
seventy percent of California inmates
seventy percent of California inmates have spent at least one year in the
have spent at least one year in the
have spent at least one year in the foster system
foster system
foster system seventy percent current estimates say
seventy percent current estimates say
seventy percent current estimates say that the number of homeless and foster
that the number of homeless and foster
that the number of homeless and foster youth and children in Los Angeles County
youth and children in Los Angeles County
youth and children in Los Angeles County ranges between twenty-five and
ranges between twenty-five and
ranges between twenty-five and thirty-five thousand if the current
thirty-five thousand if the current
thirty-five thousand if the current trend holds
trend holds
trend holds that is a lot of kids headed for prison
unless we begin to shift our thinking
unless we begin to shift our thinking around what homeless and foster youth
around what homeless and foster youth
around what homeless and foster youth support in schools looks like our kids
support in schools looks like our kids
support in schools looks like our kids giftedness and potential to impact
giftedness and potential to impact
giftedness and potential to impact society will remain locked behind bars
society will remain locked behind bars
society will remain locked behind bars instead of revolutionizing the world all
instead of revolutionizing the world all
instead of revolutionizing the world all kids need and deserve to go to school
kids need and deserve to go to school
kids need and deserve to go to school stay in school and be in control of
stay in school and be in control of
stay in school and be in control of their own future homeless and foster
their own future homeless and foster
their own future homeless and foster youth need a little more support to be
youth need a little more support to be
youth need a little more support to be able to do this and not just academic
able to do this and not just academic
able to do this and not just academic support but mental and emotional support
support but mental and emotional support
support but mental and emotional support wraparound support the road is a little
wraparound support the road is a little
wraparound support the road is a little steeper and a little harder to travel
steeper and a little harder to travel
steeper and a little harder to travel but at rise we believe all students
but at rise we believe all students
but at rise we believe all students regardless of their circumstances can
regardless of their circumstances can
regardless of their circumstances can learn grow and prosper if they’re given
learn grow and prosper if they’re given
learn grow and prosper if they’re given the necessary support to do so a
the necessary support to do so a
the necessary support to do so a relevant and responsive education will
relevant and responsive education will
relevant and responsive education will prepare our kids for college or for a
prepare our kids for college or for a
prepare our kids for college or for a job after high school and keep them out
job after high school and keep them out
job after high school and keep them out of prison I’m proud to say that even
of prison I’m proud to say that even
of prison I’m proud to say that even though Kievan is in jail he still
though Kievan is in jail he still
though Kievan is in jail he still attends his high school classes every
attends his high school classes every
attends his high school classes every day his time at Ryze and the support he
day his time at Ryze and the support he
day his time at Ryze and the support he received from the adults in his life
received from the adults in his life
received from the adults in his life allowed him to glimpse a brighter future
allowed him to glimpse a brighter future
allowed him to glimpse a brighter future for himself and he remains as committed
for himself and he remains as committed
for himself and he remains as committed as ever to his education he believes
as ever to his education he believes
as ever to his education he believes like we do that education has the power
like we do that education has the power
like we do that education has the power to change lives our homeless and foster
to change lives our homeless and foster
to change lives our homeless and foster youth know what it will take for them to
youth know what it will take for them to
youth know what it will take for them to thrive in school let’s listen to them be
thrive in school let’s listen to them be
thrive in school let’s listen to them be responsive to what they tell us and
responsive to what they tell us and
responsive to what they tell us and support them towards changing their
support them towards changing their
support them towards changing their lives thank you
”
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