A Partnership Built on Trust and Humanity
As a team, we have been partnering with Auburn School District for over a decade. We have grown together, struggled together, navigated political challenges, welcomed new immigrant families, and evolved to meet demographic shifts. And we have become family in many meaningful ways. More than any other partner, Auburn has influenced our approach as a Youth Empowered Stewardship National team to authentically and meaningfully help create schools that work for all of us. Early in the 2025-26 school year, Isaiah Johnson, the Director of Equity and Family Engagement, said at an All Principals meeting that “…in order to ensure that school improvement efforts are truly transformational, we have to bring our humanity into every space and every conversation.”
There is plenty of work to do and the challenges of achieving equitable outcomes and experiences, inclusive environments, and a broad sense of belonging in a diverse community are becoming ever more complex. Auburn has done good work on the personal, professional, structural and community levels and there is plenty more work to do. One through line has remained and is amplifying in real time: Auburn’s focus on the human side of school improvement, the human stories underneath the data. They have brought those stories forward through the arts and by lifting up students’ creative voices.
A Celebration of Student Voice and Stewardship
On April 21, the Auburn community came together for the 3rd Annual Say YES to Change event, a powerful celebration of student voice, equity, and collective growth. Hosted in partnership with Auburn School District, The Core Collaborative, and Youth Empowered Stewardship (YES), the evening highlighted what’s possible when students are centered as Stewards of change.
“This was the best Say YES to Change event yet,” shared Superintendent Dr. Spiccoti. “What I love is how every year it becomes more student-centered, more student-led, and celebrates the coming together of our equity walk work, our school improvement, student voice, families, and the community.”
Students Leading the Experience
That vision was alive in every corner of the event. Students didn’t just participate—they led. YES Ambassadors served as MCs, DJs, and event designers, creating an atmosphere that felt vibrant, welcoming, and authentically youth-driven.
A standout element of the evening was the “In My One Beat” poetry performances, where elementary students courageously shared their identities, experiences, and hopes
through spoken word. Their voices set the tone for a night rooted in belonging and expression.
Youth Action Research in Motion
High school students took the stage to present their YES Action Research Projects, demonstrating how youth are actively shaping more equitable and inclusive school communities. Auburn High School students showcased a weekly cultural newsletter, written by YES Ambassadors, designed to educate adults and strengthen culturally responsive practices across their school. Meanwhile, Auburn Mountainview High School’s Impact Club, which stands for Improving Mindfulness, Progressing Academics, and Coming Together, shared how students are building a more connected and supportive culture.
The event also featured presentations from 16 elementary and middle schools across the district. Each shared their equity work, school improvement efforts, and strategies for amplifying student voice and agency.
Culture, Community, and Belonging
Beyond presentations, the night was a celebration of culture and community. Attendees experienced live music from the YES National Team, folklórico dance from Mexico, salsa dancing, step performances, and a gallery of visual art. A shared meal brought everyone together, reinforcing the event’s spirit of connection and belonging.
The Say YES to Change event continues to grow as a model for what happens when schools truly listen to and elevate student voices. In Auburn, that commitment is not just an idea—it’s a lived experience, powered by students who are leading the way forward.
