At AltSchool, our curricular approach is designed to foster agency in students by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to advocate for themselves. Open-walled experiences that connect learning to the real world are a key part of that approach that helps prepare our students for the future.

Earlier this year, a group of middle school students at AltSchool Yerba Buena focused on a cause that inspired them to take action: They decided to participate in the March for Our Lives, to bring awareness to gun violence in schools. Together, they researched the issue and formulated a plan for the day of the march.

Inspired by these events, the Yerba Buena Student Storytellers self-organized to conceptualize, produce, and direct this video, in which they interviewed their classmates and asked them to reflect on their experiences exercising community stewardship and taking action in their broader community beyond school.

This video was produced by the AltSchool Yerba Buena student storytelling team. Learn more about our pilot Student Storytelling program.

Learn more about our lab schools and our partner school program.