Amplify: Elevating Student Voice of Youth Experiencing Homelessness Through Podcasting

Format

Workshop

Presenters

Kimberley A. SilvaFollow

First Presenter's Institution

Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office

First Presenter’s Email Address

kisilva@kern.org

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Kim Silva is a Research Associate for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Homeless and Foster Youth Education Program and a Producer of the youth-led podcast, “Youth Voice Amplified.” Ms. Silva has over 15 years of implementing and evaluating programs aimed at supporting students who have experienced homelessness, foster care, trauma and adversity. Her combined experiences and publications in community-based research provide a strong basis for her teaching, mentoring, and commitment to bringing a voice to the experience of homeless youth. Ms. Silva has two Bachelor degrees in Behavioral Science and Anthropology from California State University, Bakersfield.

Second Presenter's Institution

Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office

Second Presenter’s Email Address

albaptiste@kern.org

Second Presenter's Brief Biography

Allyson Baptiste is a Prevention Specialist for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Foster & Homeless Education Program & a Producer of the youth-led podcast called “Youth Voice Amplified.” Ms. Baptiste serves as the Advisor of the Kern CoC’s Youth Action Board & is the Chair of the Kern CoC’s Homeless Youth Committee. Ms. Baptiste has 10 years of experience working with homeless youth & foster youth, both on micro and macro levels. Ms. Baptiste has her Master of Social Work degree from UC Berkeley & strives to be an advocate for youth experiencing adversity, such as foster care & homelessness

Third Presenter's Institution

Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office

Third Presenter’s Email Address

gefisher@kern.org

Third Presenter's Brief Biography

Gennessa Fisher is one of Kern County's strongest advocates for utilizing youths' perspectives to create change within the foster care and homeless systems. Drawing from her lived experience of homelessness and foster care, Ms. Fisher acts as the Bakersfield-Kern Regional Homeless Collaborative's Youth Action Board Chair and serves on the Collaborative's Governing Board. Ms. Fisher works as a Peer Support Specialist for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Foster & Homeless Education Program and is a co-host of the youth-led podcast “Youth Voice Amplified”. Ms. Fisher is also a college student studying Communications.

Fourth Presenter's Institution

Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office

Fourth Presenter’s Email Address

brjohnson@kern.org

Fourth Presenter's Brief Biography

Brian Johnson serves as a Peer Support Specialist for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools’ Foster & Homeless Education Program & as a co-host of the youth-led podcast “Youth Voice Amplified.” As a former foster youth, a foster youth advocate, college student, and a foster parent, Mr. Johnson has a unique perspective about the impact of foster care on the lives of children and youth. Each day, Mr. Johnson ensures that foster youth and homeless youth have a voice and the services they need overcome barriers to education, employment, and housing.

Location

Session Five

Strand #1

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Strand #2

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Relevance

Regarding the Academic Achievement and Leadership strand, this presentation will focus on the pivotal role of student voice, student engagement, and strong adult-youth partnerships in fostering positive educational outcomes. Research from the Quaglia Institute highlights that students who perceive having a voice in school are significantly more academically motivated, underlining the importance of student engagement. This is especially crucial for vulnerable student groups like youth who are homeless and in foster care, as these initiatives provide them with agency over their educational paths and contribute to enhanced engagement. The presentation will also delve into how equity in education is advanced through engaging in student voice initiatives, fostering engagement, and nurturing adult-youth partnerships. Presenters will show how podcasting can empower students experiencing homelessness, providing a platform for sharing unique perspectives and potentially leading to personalized educational approaches and more equitable schools.

The workshop material also addresses the Social and Emotional Skills strand and how podcasting enhances emotional intelligence, communication skills, and empowerment among students experiencing homelessness. Student voice initiatives like podcasting with students can promote emotional resilience, foster social aptitude, and serve as a mindful activity promoting self-awareness and emotional regulation. The presentation will show how podcasting initiatives can also unite school communities by showcasing both the achievements and challenges of students experiencing homelessness, garnering significant student support. Additionally, the positive impact of podcasting on school climate, academic resilience, and student empowerment will be underscored.

Brief Program Description

Discover the synergy of student voice, podcasting, and equity. Empower the voices of students experiencing homelessness in your schools through podcasting with best practices and trauma-informed insights. Learn the basics of starting a podcast with students, access a comprehensive toolkit, and hear from youth speakers. Don't miss this opportunity to amplify diverse voices and break down educational barriers for students experiencing homelessness with podcasting.

Summary

In this dynamic session, attendees will be introduced to the transformative potential of podcasting in amplifying the voices of students experiencing homelessness. Our workshop aligns seamlessly with the conference's mission to create safe, caring, and empowering educational environments.

The workshop will guide participants through the intersection of student voice, podcasting, and the unique challenges faced by students who are homeless. Attendees will explore the concept of student voice, where educators systematically seek student viewpoints for improvement purposes, valuing their experiences, opinions, and ideas. We will delve into research findings that underscore the positive impact of student voice on learning environments, particularly for students experiencing homelessness.

A key highlight will be the discussion of the power of podcasting in empowering students who are homeless and promoting inclusivity and community support. Attendees will learn strategies for trauma-informed podcasting, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for students experiencing homelessness to share their personal stories while upholding ethical storytelling practices.

Engaging group activities will offer attendees practical experiences in designing podcast concepts and planning trauma-informed episodes. Additionally, participants will have access to valuable resources, including a podcasting guidebook and student voice e-toolkit, which provides multiple training videos, handouts, step-by-step guides, and resources on various student voice topics. That e-toolkit is available at: www.kern.org/hip. The workshop will feature firsthand insights from youth speakers, allowing participants to grasp the potential of podcasting in fostering empowerment, resilience, and social and emotional growth among students facing adversity.

By attending this workshop, participants will gain a profound understanding of how podcasting can be a transformative strategy to uplift the voices of students who are homeless. They will be equipped with practical steps, tools, and inspiration to initiate podcasting projects that align with trauma-informed and equity-driven practices, all while enhancing their commitment to promoting student voice.

We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the 2024 Conference. Our workshop encapsulates the conference's vision of fostering resilient youth and creating a more equitable educational landscape. We look forward to the chance to engage, inspire, and collaborate with fellow attendees in this impactful session.

Evidence

Reference 1:

Mitra, D. L., & Gross, S. J. (2009). Increasing student voice in high school reform: Building partnerships, improving outcomes. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 37(4), 522-543.

Mitra & Gross’ 2009 research study on building student voice initiatives in schools in order to build partnerships and improve outcomes showcases the “student voice pyramid.” The student voice pyramid shows how critical it is for students to feel heard (i.e. school personnel acknowledging youth have unique and important perspectives), for students to collaborate with adults (i.e. positive youth-adult partnerships), and for students’ leadership capacities to be built (i.e. youth and adults partner & youth are given opportunities for civic development). If this model of student voice initiatives are implemented by way of the pyramid structure, then schools will become more equitable. Mitra & Gross also state, “Systemically sharing leadership with youth opens up opportunities to re-engage disenfranchised youth.”

Reference 2:

Fernandez, Maria-Paz, Sy Doan, and Elizabeth D. Steiner, Use, Capture, and Value of Student Voice in Schools: Findings from the 2021 Learn Together Surveys. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2021. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA827-4.html.

RAND Corporation did a research study in 2021 regarding student voice implementation in schools following the COVID-19 pandemic school shutdowns. The study showed that half of teachers & administrators have reported placing less emphasis on integrating any student voice initiatives during the pandemic, even if they had done so prior. Educators also reported that opportunities for capturing student voice during virtual learning was highly diminished, showing the importance of placing emphasis on student voice post-pandemic shutdowns.

Reference 3:

Quaglia Institute: quagliainstitute.org/dmsView/School_Voice_Report_2016

The Quaglia Institute’s 2016 School Voice Report showcases the importance of student voice initiatives when engaging students of all ages. The Quaglia Institute’s research shows that student voice increases academic motivation, and students who believe they have a voice in school are 7x more likely to be academically motivated.

Learning Objective 1

Participants will be able to grasp the significance of student voice and its purpose in seeking student viewpoints for educational improvement, with a particular focus on its relevance for students experiencing homelessness.

Learning Objective 2

Participants will be able to initiate podcasting projects with homeless students by gaining practical insights into content development, equipment, software recommendations, and effective evaluation strategies.

Learning Objective 3

Participants will be able to implement best practices for fostering student voice and engagement, particularly among students who are homeless, with a special emphasis on avoiding tokenism and adultism in their interactions and initiatives.

Keyword Descriptors

Student Voice, Students Experiencing Homelessness, Podcasting, Trauma-Informed Care, Equity, Podcasting Benefits, Best Practices, Avoiding Tokenism and Adultism, Resource Sharing, Education

Presentation Year

2024

Start Date

3-5-2024 10:15 AM

Recommended Citation

Silva, Kimberley A., "Amplify: Elevating Student Voice of Youth Experiencing Homelessness Through Podcasting" (2024). National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference. 44.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2024/2024/44