Tragedy or Turning Point? The Pandemic’s Effect on Black and Brown Youth

The pandemic has accelerated the crisis in youth wellbeing. Today, 7 in 10 public schools report a rise in the number of children seeking services to support their wellbeing. But what can be done to make all students feel seen, heard and valued?

During a CZI hosted plenary session at the 2022 National Association of Black and Hispanic Journalists Convention, panelists reflected on the pandemic’s impact over the past two years, discussed the implications for black and brown students, and shared strategies for helping to prioritize student wellbeing and accelerate academic success.

Moderating the panel was Sheinelle Jones, co-host of TODAY on NBC, who opened things up with a question to Dr. John B. King, Jr., president of The Education Trust and former U.S. Secretary of Education, asking about the importance of having students feel seen and heard.

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Jacob Allen, CEO of pilotED Foundation, followed up and shared how this approach looks on his campuses. Dr. Stacy Perez further built on that with examples from her school – including the use of the free tool Along to build teacher-student connections.

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Going back to Dr. King, Sheinelle asked about a whole child approach to education and how it can help students succeed academically.

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Want more? View the entire panel recording below:

Read more from Dr. Stacey Perez and Dr. John King in this article about the impact of the pandemic on students.

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About the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was founded in 2015 to help solve some of society’s toughest challenges — from eradicating disease and improving education, to addressing the needs of our communities. Through collaboration, providing resources and building technology, our mission is to help build a more inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone. For more information, please visit chanzuckerberg.com.