IMG-6693-Zarah-Zurita-1-scaled TeenSHARP Students for Racial Justice Summit 2021

Around this time last year, social media was buzzing as students in Delaware and across the country were collecting stories about the racism and injustice they experienced in their schools.

In the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s murders, there was substantial pressure to reform the criminal justice system. With students protesting, posting, and telling their stories, there was now a great spotlight on the urgent reforms needed in the education system as well.

A year later, we can see so many examples of the power of students raising their voices and making demands of the school system.

TeenSHARP students were key leaders in the push for House Bill 198 (which was signed into law and requires each school district and charter school to establish and implement a curriculum on Black History for students in grades K through 12). Another group of TeenSHARP students pushed their district to be more transparent about the “college prep” courses in schools that often leave students not ready for college. Other TeenSHARPies were able to get their schools and districts to make other major changes to better support students of color.

While these successes represent progress, there is still so much more work to be done.

TeenSHARP is hosting its first “Students for Racial Justice Summit” from Monday August 16th to Friday August 20th to prepare high school and college students to continue to lead efforts to ensure their education institutions are equitable and inclusive.

The virtual summit will bring together high school and college students for a week-long leadership bootcamp that will empower them to make their voices heard in the education system and mobilize their peers.

The interactive sessions will be held from 9am to 5pm during each day.

Students will have an opportunity to build connections with like-minded peers, meet education and racial justice movement local and national leaders, and learn skills that will help them become more effective change agents.

HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN APPLY NOW (Deadline August 6th)

Students for Racial Justice Summit Agenda

Day 1: The power of community, your voice, and movement building

Day 2: Making your voice louder through the media

Day 3: The Movement Will Not Be Temporary (Community Organizing 101)

Day 4: What’s possible with sustained movements?

Day 5: Leadership and self-care for the long-haul 

Deborah Yanez

Parent Programs Manager

Deborah leads TeenSHARP’s parent empowerment work with love, conviction, and credibility. She grew up in one of America’s poorest cities (Camden, NJ), has served as an elected school board member, raised two sons who have accessed higher education successfully (one is a TeenSHARP alumnus and McCabe Scholar at Swarthmore) along with her husband, and has helped many more families prepare their children for college.

Zoha Fatima

Director of Operations & Special Projects

Zoha is driven by a deep passion for education and social justice. With over 8 years of experience in the development sector, she has made significant contributions to various education projects aimed at increasing access and equity. Zoha’s commitment to empowering learners stems from her belief that education is a fundamental right. She honed her expertise at Harvard University, earning a Master’s in Education and Technology, building upon her undergraduate studies in Public Policy.

Based in the Bay Area, Zoha loves exploring the diverse California landscape, especially through hiking. When she’s not championing educational equity, you can find her baking, hitting the trails, or enjoying the outdoor.

Sara Petty

Director of Pre-College Success

Sara Petty is TeenSHARP’s powerhouse Director of Pre-College Success, orchestrating a nationwide expansion to ensure that talented Black, Latino, and low-income students have a direct path to elite colleges. With a proven track record from her days scaling a college access program in Houston, Sara has a knack for turning educational challenges into triumphs. She thrives on transforming obstacles into opportunities and is known for her relentless drive and innovative solutions. When she’s not making waves in the world of education, you can find her brainstorming the next big idea over a cup of coffee or diving into a new book that sparks her curiosity. Sara’s mission? To make sure every student has the chance to unlock their full potential and claim their spot in the future’s top colleges.

Tamara Fentress

Chief of Staff

For over 18 years, Tamara has been a passionate advocate for educational equity, inclusion, and the overall improvement of support structures to build a solid foundation for the journey of learning. Driven by a desire to see all students and families thrive, she has successfully led major projects of varying budget sizes, while also co-creating and implementing innovative strategies at mission-driven organizations across various operational areas, from technology and project management to legal and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEIB) initiatives.

Her journey began in a large urban school district, where she spent a significant portion of her career leading the development of critical strategies that served over 86,000 students. This experience allowed her to work closely with a diverse team of over 10,000 employees, understanding and addressing needs across all levels of the organization. Her collaborative spirit extended beyond the school district, fostering strong partnerships with parent groups, community organizations, and government entities.

Tamara’s dedication to education stems from a deeply personal place. As a mother to two inspiring children, Harmony and Hudson, she sees firsthand the potential and power of having access to opportunities, caring adults, and belief in that which is greater than yourself.  This unwavering belief in the power of serving others, access, equity, and education to empower and transform lives fuels her commitment to continuous learning and creating equitable opportunities for all.

Tatiana Poladko

Co-Founder

Our “force of nature” founder came to New Jersey from Ukraine for graduate school over a decade ago and immediately put her hands to the work of community empowerment and expanding educational opportunity. She has experience managing youth programs for the UN in Ukraine (at the age of 19!), teaching at Temple University, building/managing nonprofit organizations, and supporting students to and through college. She is also a mother to three lovely kids (Zoryana, Nazariy, and Taras), plays guitar and piano, and makes amazing soups!

Atnre Alleyne

Co-Founder/CEO

As TeenSHARP’s resident historian, Atnre is quick to share stories of the organization’s humble church basement beginnings, its growing pains, and many milestones. With his background in research and evaluation, policy and advocacy, communications, technology, and instruction, he has the type of Swiss Army knife skills that are critical in a fast-paced social impact organization. He has three lovely children (Zoryana, Nazariy, and Taras), an amazing wife (TeenSHARP’s Co-Founder), and he plays bass guitar and blogs when he finds the time.