CREATIVE INTERVENTIONS
A NEW PROGRAM FROM RISING YOUTH THEATRE & ACLU OF ARIZONA'S DEMAND TO LEARN CAMPAIGN
Rising Youth Theatre and the Demand to Learn Campaign of ACLU of Arizona are excited to launch “Creative Interventions,” a new program supporting students through strong relationships. Facilitators from RYT and D2L will work with teachers in the cohort to provide new strategies for classroom culture and to support teachers in the classroom as they try out new tools and take action to build restorative relationships with their students.
History:
We believe that young people & teachers are the main stakeholders of education policies that come to life in the classroom.
Rising Youth Theatre & the Demand to Learn campaign of the ACLU of Arizona have been working to shift the way we approach the alarming issue of student push-out by building power with young people and strengthening teacher & student relationships. Since 2017, the two organizations have created a summer organizing and learning training series for youth on understanding and ending biased disciplinary practices in schools called The Trouble Series and developed and premiered a full length play called The 100th Day based on stories of young people who experience pushout in the Arizona education system. Learn more about The 100th Day by listening to this interview on KJZZ.
Through a collaboration between Rising Youth Theatre, the ACLU of Arizona's Demand to Learn Campaign, and Black Mothers Forum with support from the Vitalyst Health Foundation, we brought together a team made up of young people, educators, organizers, researchers and artists to co-create a teacher learning series to engage directly with teachers in learning strategies for ending student push out through the strengthening of teacher/student relationships.
Youth Cohort
Trinity Miracle
Madeline Valiquette
Trinity Miracle
Trinity is currently an undergraduate at Arizona State University, majoring in Justice Studies. Her dream is to live at the intersection between art and justice, creating radical and captivating statements through her love of the arts and story sharing. Trinity has a love for self portrait photography, digital creation, and morning smoothies .
Morgan Kubasko
Madeline Valiquette
Trinity Miracle
In 5 words I am Imaginative, resilient, motivated, kind, passionate.
My superpower is I can write essays in under 30 minutes.
Madeline Valiquette
Madeline Valiquette
Madeline Valiquette
In 5 words I am creative, joyful, bubbly, jazzy and fun. My superpower is my heritage.
Jowun Ben
Faith Santos
Faith Santos
I am Diné college student My super power is finding the good in the bad. it's whatever you consider what your superpower is!
Faith Santos
Faith Santos
Faith Santos
Faith Santos is a 16 year-old Filipino American artist based in Laveen, AZ. She has been appreciating art from a very young age and is channeling her talents and skills in performance to transform and heal various audiences. She believes activism and art work hand in hand and can curate change and empowerment.
Elena Gandy
Faith Santos
Elena Gandy
I am a young Latina woman who is a junior in high school In five words, I am compassionate, determined, passionate, a critical thinker, and observant. My superpower is being highly empathetic.
Deanna Lemorin
Deanna Lemorin
Deanna Lemorin
in 5 words I am opinionated, energetic, talkative, creative & fun. Superpower: eating an ton of oreos
Chanté Holiday
Deanna Lemorin
Deanna Lemorin
I, Chanté Holiday, am passionate, enthusiastic, ambiverted, determinate, and compassionate. My superpower is my intuition, 60% of the time it works Everytime!
Amara Neal
Deanna Lemorin
Amara Neal
In 5 words I am Independent, Optimistic, Cunning, Light-hearted, Imaginative. I like to think if I were in a movie I’d be the comic relief-- laidback, funny, and a good peacekeeper. So, I would say my superpower is starting a conversation. I can start a conversation pretty easily by finding something I have in common with others or cracking a joke.
Alex Rocio
Gabe Fuentes
Gabe Fuentes
In 5 words I am an Independent, passionate, artistic young woman. My superpower will probably have to be that I can figure out how to play Mary had a little lamb on any instrument in less than 5 minutes.
Gabe Fuentes
Gabe Fuentes
Gabe Fuentes
Teacher Cohort
Darryl Ordell
Elijah Costales-Chevalier
Elijah Costales-Chevalier
Teaches at Eagle College Preparatory Academy
What do you love about teaching?
The sculpting of minds and hearts.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
How to successfully incorporate more interactive and introspective activities in the classroom.
Elijah Costales-Chevalier
Elijah Costales-Chevalier
Elijah Costales-Chevalier
Teaches Biology at Camelback High School
What do you love about teaching?
I love teaching as it allows me to help heal upcoming generations + enact social change
.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
I am eager to learn how creative writing could be used as an empowering tool for students to communicate their needs.
Christina Ramirez
Elijah Costales-Chevalier
Christina Ramirez
Teaches Arts/Enrichment Specials K-6th at ASU Prep Academy South Phoenix
What do you love about teaching?
I love the energy and perspective my students provide me with.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
I am excited to learn new perspective and strategies from others; related to education.
Kate Bowdren
Carlos Gantchoff
Carlos Gantchoff
Teaches Reading Intervention at ASU Preparatory Academy-South Phoenix
What do you love about teaching?
I love bearing witness to a person connecting with their internal gifts!
What are you excited to learn in this program?
I’m so excited to learn innovative ways to deepen my relationship with the students and community I serve
Carlos Gantchoff
Carlos Gantchoff
Carlos Gantchoff
Principal in the Alhambra District
What do you love about teaching?
Giving kids power
What are you excited to learn in this program?
New viewpoints
Tearra Hunter
Carlos Gantchoff
Tearra Hunter
Teaches 3rd-4th Grade Humanities at BASIS Phoenix South Primary
What do you love about teaching?
Seeing the growth in my students, the "Aha!" moments.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
Different strategies I can implement to better support all of my students.
NaTyshca N Pickett
NaTyshca N Pickett
NaTyshca N Pickett
Teaches Elementary 1st grade at Create Academy
What do you love about teaching?
I love seeing children grow and learn through their experiences.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
How to implement creative thinking in my curriculum and how to address issues of injustice my students may experience.
K-K McLaughlin
NaTyshca N Pickett
NaTyshca N Pickett
Teaches High school English at Estrella High School
What do you love about teaching?
I love watching young adults realize they are strong and capable human beings.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
I am excited to learn about what other educators are doing in their classrooms.
Leslie Ringler
NaTyshca N Pickett
Leslie Ringler
Teaches math and humans at Tempe Academy of International Studies
What do you love about teaching?
Connecting with young people #notasentence :)
What are you excited to learn in this program?
Anything the collective conscious of the group wants to teach me #notasentence :)
Carlos A Lara
Carlos A Lara
Carlos A Lara
Teaches Elementary Drama at BASIS Phoenix South Primary
What do you love about teaching?
I enjoy working with children, and specially love to be able to empower children of color, let them know that their voices and experiences are valid.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
To learn from peers and incorporate skills in how to fully engage students to the maximum level.
Sarah France
Carlos A Lara
Carlos A Lara
Teaches 6th grade math and science at ASU Prep Academy South Phoenix Primary/Intermediate
What do you love about teaching?
I love the feeling of fulfillment and that I'm making a difference in these students' lives
What are you excited to learn in this program?
How to put my students' experiences into perspective and use them to help our classroom grow
Mark Bowden
Carlos A Lara
Mark Bowden
Teaches 8th Grade Science at Maurice C. Cash Elementary School
What do you love about teaching?
I love watching students build their confidence in taking on challenges in my classroom--both academic and non-academic.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
I'm excited to develop mindsets and skills that help students feel justice in my classroom and pursue justice outside of my classroom.
Adriana Aragon
Brillana Barraza
Adriana Aragon
Currently a student
What do you love about teaching?
Instilling a sense of wonder to students
What are you excited to learn in this program?
Innovative ways to incorporate mindfulness in the classroom
Garrett Pauli
Brillana Barraza
Adriana Aragon
Teaches Poetry/Spoken Word at Granada East School & PUHSD
What do you love about teaching?
The joy of young folks flickering lightbulbs from a new discovery.
What are you excited to learn in this program?
How to be a more effective ally to my students.
Brillana Barraza
Brillana Barraza
Brillana Barraza
Teaches AP Language and Composition, ELA 11 and ELA 09 at Glenview College Preparatory
What do you love about teaching?
I absolutely love seeing my students break their preconceived limits and push their academic boundaries!
What are you excited to learn in this program?
I am excited to meet other educators, gain new perspectives and initiate learned practices in my classroom!