On November 14, 2025, Therapicasso collaborated with Alhambra Unified School District’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee (EDIAC) to host a student panel focused on the lived experiences of youth navigating identity, inclusion, and belonging in today’s education system.

‍

Led by AUSD’s director of equity and organized in partnership with EDIAC, the event brought together passionate student advocates who shared powerful stories in hopes of fostering a more inclusive learning environment for all. The panelists included Keiko Rakin, Hailey Cuevas, Briana Hampton, Sophia Alanna Estevez, and Victor Lam, each presenting their perspectives on fostering more inclusive school environments.

‍

Keiko Rakin, a student at Alhambra High School, mentioned a time when she was ridiculed for eating watermelon, a fruit she loves, at a club gala after peers associated her food choice with a racial stereotype. Briana spoke about her struggles navigating a her biracial identity, sharing how she often felt pressured to choose between her Hispanic and African American heritages, and rarely seen as both.

‍

Panelists Victor Lam and Sophia Esteves reflected on the difficulties they faced expressing their gender identity and sexuality in school environments. Sophia described facing bias rooted in her ethnicity and gender, while Victor recalled moments when peers disregarded his gender identity, leaving him feel invalidated and uncomfortable.

‍

Throughout these discussions, the panelists emphasized the need for educators to be more open to having these kinds of conversations, as they are often the first step in fostering safe environments for all students. 

‍

‍

This was the first panel of its nature in AUSD. Due to the positive reception of the event, Therapicasso was invited to host a second student panel in front of the rest of AUSD at the district’s principals' meeting. In this session, students once again took the lead – offering personal stories and reflections on how school leadership can more effectively advance DEI practices across campuses. 

‍

Principals and staff alike recognized the importance of these stories, so Therapicasso hosted a third DEI event at Ramona Elementary school. Here, panelists Keiko Rakin and Victor Lam shared their stories to Ramona staff and administrators to encourage them to integrate equity-focused practices into their campus. 

‍

To follow up with these panels, Gabby/Lex Wong and Joshua Ferriere delivered a presentation centered around equity and inclusion at Mark Keppel High School’s professional development workshop. Drawing from the stories shared at the DEI panels, Gabby and Joshua encouraged educators to reflect on how they show up for all of their students when teaching. Their words emphasized the importance of not excusing racism or homophobia, because even seemingly small acts of kindness can make the biggest difference in a student’s school experience.  

‍

These events highlighted the vital role youth voices play in fostering change–especially in communities made up of young people. By giving students the platform to share their insight with educators and administrators, the panel acted as a reminder that progress begins with sharing stories and listening with open minds. 

‍