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What Black & Indigenous Students Want Educational Leaders to Know

See what 10 Black and Indigenous high school students had to say to Southern California educational leaders about their school experience.

At the Learn. Lead. Liberate. conference hosted by LAEP and 21CSLA in July, nine incredible current or recently graduated high school students participated in a panel discussion – moderated by college student Priscilla Ortiz LaChappa – about their experiences in school as Black & Indigenous students and what they want educational leaders to know.

Here are some of their thoughts and themes that came up:

Several members of the panel shared that their schools only spend a short time, if any time at all, discussing history and culture of Black and Indigenous people. They expressed that they want, deserve, and need more.

“We need our history back. We go through historical trauma. We need to have representation in the classroom. Teach beyond the textbooks.”
– Trinadad

They also shared that they are willing to take on leadership roles within their schools to help create more inclusive educational environments, but they want leaders to learn from that in a way that they can continue the positive environment for years to come after those students graduate.

“Take the initiative. Do the work. Do the learning. A lot of youth are left to lead all the work and all the movements. It’s important for you as administrators to learn from the students you have now so that you can carry that on.”
– Priscilla

Ultimately, these students expressed wanting to be heard, seen, and valued.

“As BIPOC students, the education system was never intentionally made for us.”
– Rekik

“Listen to your youth when they do say that they need help.”
– Amelia

“If there is one thing I want educational leaders to know, it is to create inclusive learning environments early on. Center the voices of young people of color.”
– Ania

“Why do you ask us what you want done and then nothing changes?”
– Samirah

“Your job as an administrator, as someone who holds a position of power, is to make sure every single student feels safe, feels seen, and feels welcome.”
– Jabez

“Our future Black and Indigenous students need better. It starts with us, and it starts with [schools] listening to us.”
– Ania
What Black and Indigenous Students Want from Their Schools infographic

Thank you to Priscilla, Trinadad, Eshash, Amelia, Deena, Loki, Jabez, Rekik, Ania, and Samirah for your participation, inspiration, and, most importantly, leadership!

We have so much to learn from our youth. It’s time to listen and do better.

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Melissa Peña

Chief Program Officer

Melissa Peña serves as the Chief Program Officer at the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), bringing more than two decades of experience advancing educational equity, youth development, and community-centered systems change. A mission-driven and strategic leader, she has dedicated her career to eliminating barriers to learning and seeking equitable outcomes for historically underserved youth. Prior to joining LAEP, Melissa spent over 14 years at Green Dot Public Schools where she launched and scaled high-impact initiatives that reduced chronic absenteeism by 27%, expanded access to wellness services, and built network-wide support systems for more than 600 homeless and foster youth across 18 schools. Her leadership is rooted in both entrepreneurial vision and disciplined execution—designing programs, teams, and infrastructure that strengthen outcomes for students while supporting the adults who serve them. 

Melissa’s commitment to equity has shaped her work across roles in education, youth development, and human services, including senior leadership positions at The Door in New York City and national diversity recruitment efforts at Teach For America. She began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Newark, New Jersey, a formative experience that continues to ground her belief that the key to ensuring every young person meets their full potential lies in the power of family–school–community partnerships. At LAEP, Melissa leads program strategy with empathy, clarity, and a deep belief that children thrive when systems work together from “diapers to diplomas.” She holds a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys researching her family history, exploring nature, and family movie nights with her husband and two children. 

LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.