The fifth annual New Voices Student Leadership Institute kicked off this year with a record number of states represented. Thirty-two students from 20 states joined SPLC staff members and special guest speakers to learn about the New Voices movement and how they could be leaders in their state’s efforts toward student press freedom.
During the free online program, students engaged in a wide range of activities meant to enhance their leadership and organizing skills and develop their role with the New Voices movement. They participated in workshops on op-ed writing and creating an effective advocacy strategy, and they had conversations with experts on press freedom. Among this year’s guest speakers were lifelong student rights activists Mary Beth Tinker and Cathy Kuhlmeier, staff from the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Jeremy Redmon from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and several Institute alumni, who returned to inspire the new class of student leaders. Each guest emphasized the importance of student voices in this movement and beyond, and guided students on how to use their voice to pass legislation that protects their First Amendment rights.
After spending two weeks learning from SPLC team members, special guest speakers and one another, this new group of New Voices student leaders are ready to put their new skills into action in their states.
Ava Leyba is one of these students. Leyba is a junior at Explore Academy Charter School in New Mexico. She is a founder and one of the editors-in-chief for her student newspaper, the Wolfpack Post. She shares her experiences from the Institute and what is next for her advocacy work.
I first learned about New Voices from an internet search about press freedom. As one of the editors-in-chief of my high school newspaper, The Wolfpack Post, freedoms of student journalists in particular are important to me. SPLC’s mission to protect student journalists from censorship was intriguing. I noticed that my state, New Mexico, doesn’t have a New Voices law that protects student journalists from censorship. I wanted to change this, because without student journalists, we start to lose our democracy.
When I hopped onto the first Zoom call of the New Voices Student Leaders Institute, I didn’t know what to expect. Honestly, I was pretty nervous because I didn’t have any previous experience in advocacy and was the only person from New Mexico. I learned that New Mexico doesn’t have a coalition of students to advocate for a New Voices law, which made me feel completely lost. However, I would gain confidence in my advocacy abilities as I listened to guest speakers, collaborated with other student journalists, and set advocacy goals.
During one of our guest speaker sessions, I was able to listen to Mary Beth Tinker speak about her advocacy for student press freedom. In school, I learned about Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, which ruled that students have a right to talk about controversial topics in public schools. However, I was not expecting to actually meet the woman who stood up for her rights to free speech. I was also able to listen to Cathy Kuhlmeier, who fought for her First Amendment rights as a student journalist in the case Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier. Listening to Tinker and Kuhlmeier inspired me to continue the fight for student press freedom because students deserve to have their voices heard.
In another one of our guest speaker sessions, I listened to journalist Jeremy Redmon speak about the importance of mental health in journalism and advocacy. I thought that this discussion was very significant because an unhealthy journalist cannot champion the First Amendment. In this kind of advocacy work, it is vital to take breaks, engage in hobbies and practice self-care. Or else, burnout is inevitable, and your goal won’t be reached. As I move forward in my advocacy journey, I plan to use these strategies to take care of my mental health, as this work will be faced with many challenges.
During the Institute, I learned strategies for effective advocacy and lobbying efforts, wrote an op-ed about the importance of student press freedom in our society, presented my advocacy goals in a presentation and was able to talk with other student journalists about their experiences with censorship. New Voices has helped me realize that I have a passion for advocacy work, and wish to pursue it in my future.
The Institute also helped me to be more confident in myself, even though I was the only student from New Mexico. In the beginning, I was unsure that I would even be successful in gathering interest to support a New Voices law in my state. Now, I’m excited to start reaching out to other student journalists and start organizing.
– Ava Leyba
Moving forward, I plan to build a coalition of student journalists who are interested in supporting a New Voices law and fighting for student press freedoms. A New Voices law might not be passed in New Mexico anytime soon, which is why it is so important to build a strong coalition of student journalists. This won’t be an easy task, but the Institute has given me the knowledge, confidence and community needed to help me move forward with my advocacy!
Learn more about how you can take action to restore and protect student press freedom in your state.