The Student Advocacy Council is a unique opportunity for students in Golden Plains schools to lead positive school-wide change. The program was officially launched in the Fall semester of 2019 in San Joaquin Elementary and Tranquility High Schools.
Drawing on the yli model for youth leadership development, the groups at Golden Plains have spent the inaugural year of school honing leadership skills, team building, learning about social justice advocacy, an developing strategies for bettering their schools’ climates. San Joaquin focused on facility safety and implementing a social norms campaign, which uses youth-led research to counteract misperceptions of underage alcohol use and normalize healthy activities. Tranquillity High School focused on student-teacher relationships.
In 2020-2021, both programs focused their efforts on Tobacco Prevention work, focusing on raising awareness around flavored tobacco and voter education around SB793. They also hosted healing circles for students and teachers to support their mental health and wellness.