Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism, announced today the five high school students in its first-ever Student Leaders for Equity Internship Program. The Internship Program is a new offering within ERASE Racism’s broad array of educational activities, which engage students, teachers, and parents in addressing structural racism on Long Island. The Internship Program has two components: a six-week paid summer intensive and an ongoing engagement during the school year, when the Student Leaders for Equity return to their schools and implement the plans that they made over the summer. The Internship Program enables students to explore with ERASE Racism the impact of structural racism within their communities and what can be done about it.
Structural racism is the historical and ongoing racial discrimination, segregation, and marginalization of Black people – African Americans in particular – that is typically instigated or sanctioned by government. From slavery through today, it affects every aspect of life in America, especially where we live, where our children go to school, what jobs are accessible, and what opportunities are available for Black people in contrast to White people.
Following are the five inaugural Student Leaders for Equity:
Alli Alvarez, who lives in North Bellmore and is a rising senior at Wellington C. Mepham
High School in the Bellmore-Merrick Central School District
Cateyann Bernhard, who lives in East Northport and is a rising senior at John H. Glenn
High School in the Elwood Union Free School District
Serenity Bivens, who lives in Long Beach and is a rising junior at Long Beach High School
in the Long Beach City School District
Mariah Harry, who lives in Copiague and is a rising senior at Walter G. O’Connell
Copiague High School in the Copiague School District
Pooja Kumar, who lives in Roslyn Heights and is a rising senior at Herricks High School in the Herricks Union Free School District.
The fact that the Student Leaders for Equity are from five school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties provides them with an opportunity to share their views and experiences with students from other school districts. That is an opportunity that is all too rare and is key to overcoming the fragmentation and resulting segregation of Long Island school districts.
The summer intensive runs three days a week for six weeks. For two days each week the
Student Leaders for Equity work together in ERASE Racism’s office, so that they have a shared experience; one day each week they do research from home. The Internship Program is managed by a Long Island public school teacher, who was formerly a staff member at ERASE Racism.
Throughout the six-week summer intensive, the Student Leaders for Equity have researched their local histories, explored the implications of present-day manifestations of structural racism, and learned how to communicate their understanding to their peers and educators in their community. The students identify changes they wish to make in their schools and communities and develop strategies and solutions to address their unique needs. They are currently planning to host school-wide educational events, start or revitalize clubs that discuss and address systemic racism, and advocate for more complete and culturally responsive curriculum.
An integral part of the Internship Program is the extension and application of knowledge
learned through the six-week summer intensive. The students will continue to meet
throughout the school year to track the progress of their goals, collaborate, and problem-solve any issues that arise. This extension ensures the long-term impact of the program.
“ERASE Racism is excited to offer this Internship Program for high school students,” said Elaine Gross, President of ERASE Racism. “Each Student Leader for Equity brings a passion for racial justice and a unique experience. It’s inspiring and rewarding to see them embark on defining their own journeys to advance racial understanding and inclusion.”