The Surprising Beauty of Student-Led Activities

Student-led activities sit at the heart of Connections, where Crew members put new leadership skills into practice. But can teenagers really craft spaces where everyone feels they belong?

Skeptics picture chaos; I wanted evidence.

As a Seattle Public Schools educator and racial-equity coach serving 22 North Seattle schools, I was eager to see the concept in action.

So, I observed a Connections session on June 4th at Roosevelt High School, led by Crew members Sarah, Milla, Ivan, Isabella, Vicki, Aaron, Chebar, and Julia.

Two months earlier I’d watched their Zoom pitch for a “Graffiti Art, Community, and Belonging” project—now it was time to see whether their enthusiasm would translate into practice.

What I saw surprised me:

• The Crew members took charge of the project, welcoming the attendees and organizing the food and getting the supplies ready.
• I was impressed by how the voices of the Crew members were clear and intentional with direction.
• The guest Artists shared the vision after the Crew got the attendees to divide up into mixed groups. (The purpose is making and strengthening connections).

Here are two examples of how that went:

• • • A Crew Member saw an attendee who was having difficulty joining a group and they came alongside and talked with them encouraging them and giving them options of how they can join and welcome in a new person.
    • Crew Members came together to discuss when they had an incredibly shy attendee who was withdrawn to the point I was concerned. They quickly discussed it and one took the lead to go sit by them and talk about the activity. Then another came over and asked if he would like to join his team. The student walked with him sat and then got up after a few minutes and said he already knew these people. Would it be OK if he joined another team? I was shocked as he settled in and started drawing. There was a Crew Member in the team he joined who also helped guide conversation.
• Overall, the atmosphere in the room was warm and welcoming. There was a flow of conversational buzz of belonging and acceptance.
• The Artists flowed between the Crew’s giving advice and supportive comments on the young artists’ work. Smiling faces and joy filled the room as they used art to explore what “belonging” and “community” look like. The Crew Members were truly creating a space for connecting.

As a guest I felt welcomed into their space and was able to freely flow between the attendees and ask questions about what they were working on. All seemed to be engaged in the activity, and I felt the event was successfully attended.

The answer to my original inquiry? Yes, indeed! Teenagers can really craft spaces where everyone feels they belong.

Well done, Connections Crew!