Approximately 100 students from 21 school districts from across the Capital Region gathered for the fourth annual Elevating Student Voices (ESV) Youth Summit at Proctors Theatre on April 29. The event showcased the work students are doing to make their school communities more welcoming and inclusive.
This year’s summit featured a performance by the Albany Marching Falcons, a moving keynote address by City Mission of Schenectady CEO and Executive Director Michael Saccocio, and welcome speeches by Duanesburg senior Santino Bailey, Capital Region BOCES District Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer Lauren Gemmill and ESV co-creator and program consultant Dr. Eva Jones.
Bailey joined the ESV program three years ago and said it does more than give students a seat at the table. At its roots, it’s about making sure the voices of the most under-represented students are heard and valued. Throughout the year, ESV participants met at Capital Region BOCES’s administrative building in Albany for workshops led by Dr. Jones. They focused on topics related to microaggressions, neurodiversity, and multilingual communities. The Youth Summit showcased that extraordinary work.
“When students are empowered, schools become stronger, communities become more inclusive and issues that affect us most directly are addressed with honesty, creativity, and urgency. Whether it’s promoting equity, creating belonging, or challenging systems that leave people out. Student leaders have the power to spark real progress,” said Bailey. “[ESV is] about recognizing that students are not the ‘future’ of change. We are part of what is happening right now. Too often, young people are told to wait our turn to wait until we’re older, more experienced, or more qualified. But this program proves the opposite. Student leadership matters now.”
Gemmill spoke about the need for coming together during a time where screens and feeds can push us into isolation. “We are currently navigating a landscape where social media often amplifies division, and where negative polarizing narratives can easily drown genuine connection and understanding,” she said.
“I truly believe that if we want change in our schools, we need to ask our students to be part of that change. ESV was created to do just that. As high school student leaders, you possess a remarkable gift. The ability to harness the power of your voices for meaningful change. Today, that gift is more important than ever.”
Saccocio delivered a powerful and inspiring keynote. “To me, one of the keys to diversity and inclusivity is daring to look beyond what’s obvious into the heart of things. And I realized something very wonderful about human nature, that the deeper we go into our own hearts and our own stories, the more we have in common,” he said.
The summit also featured student discussion circles throughout the first and top levels of the theatre, a reveal of the students’ Mic in the Hall video about ESV, and a Student and Community Leaders panel. There was also an exhibit area where the students displayed the work they had been doing all year. The wildly popular “boX Challenge,” which started at Mohonasen Central School District and spread region-wide, is one of the student-led initiatives presented this year. The challenge encourages students to reject harmful stereotypes and choose acceptance and positivity.
“It’s amazing the kinds of things that have happened here in the Capital Region to encourage others to choose kindness and work toward making our schools a place where all people know that they can be safe to be themselves,” said Dr. Jones.
Kelly Maslin, Capital Region BOCES Director of Educational Support Services, said ESV asks students ‘how do we create empathy? How can you be an advocate for students who are different from you? How do you make sure everyone feels more supported?'”
“We must continue to create spaces where every student, regardless of background, identity, or circumstance, feel seen, respected, and empowered. We must keep listening, keep advocating, and keep building systems, where inclusion is not an afterthought, but a foundation,” said Bailey.
Thank you to our Student Leaders and Community Leader Panelists!
Student Leader Speakers and Panelist: Santino Bailey, opening remarks
Owen Smith, panel moderator’ Bhavya Kakarala; Alex Bellotti; and Hibah Junaid
Community Leader Panelists: Jen DeGroff, BOTS ADAPT Workshop Leader and Truelcon CEO, Bring on the Spectrum; Sierra Sangetti-Daniels, Founder & Team Lead, People’s Perception Project (P-3); and Eddie Polanco – Ambassador Program, Schenectady City Mission.