Written by Nicolette Hoang, Senior in Carlsbad Unified Schools (April 2025) At the end of Trump’s first term in 2020, I illustrated the piece “It is Time for Change” for the ACLU’s Art Justice Squad digital journal called the Road to Find. It depicts me, mask and all, protesting with a burning Confederate flag behind […]
Free to Learn, Free to Be, Free to READ Read More »
Written by Maya Shtangrud, Senior in the Los Angeles Unified School District (MAY 2025) The arts changed my life. As a child of immigrants in a low-income household, I entered school speaking little English. It was in an after-school choir that I first discovered my voice, gained confidence, and built my first sense of community.
Where Creativity Meets Community: Reimagining Arts Education Read More »
Written by Natalie Shtangrud, Senior in Los Angeles Unified School District (JUNE 2022) As someone who just finished high school, I can tell you from experience that our public schools are severely underfunded in mental health resources and arts education. As students, we have the right to heal, grow, and express ourselves through a creative
Written by Tawhida C., Youth Liberty Squad Student, 12th Grader in Los Angeles There’s a weird disconnect between the way schools talk about mental health and the reality students face every day. We hear words like “self-care” and “resilience,” but what we really need is access to support and help. In California, students have a
When Will Schools Actually Prioritize Mental Health? Read More »
Although we have the right in California to wear our tribal, religious, or cultural regalia at graduation, some schools still try to stop Indigenous highschoolers from doing so. Such restrictions deny us our ability to express ourselves and embrace our culture, further setting back the very few rights we have.
ARTS JUSTICE NOW: Student Leaders Highlight Broken Promises and Violations in LA Schools Read More »
Although we have the right in California to wear our tribal, religious, or cultural regalia at graduation, some schools still try to stop Indigenous highschoolers from doing so. Such restrictions deny us our ability to express ourselves and embrace our culture, further setting back the very few rights we have.
Student Tribal Regalia Rights and Graduation Read More »
Although we have the right in California to wear our tribal, religious, or cultural regalia at graduation, some schools still try to stop Indigenous highschoolers from doing so. Such restrictions deny us our ability to express ourselves and embrace our culture, further setting back the very few rights we have.
The Shocking State of Mental Health and Behavioral Services in California in 2023 Read More »
Although we have the right in California to wear our tribal, religious, or cultural regalia at graduation, some schools still try to stop Indigenous highschoolers from doing so. Such restrictions deny us our ability to express ourselves and embrace our culture, further setting back the very few rights we have.
Preserving Our Cultural Rights at Graduation Read More »
A journal for young students who are passionate about art and advocacy Self care is an act of social justice. The Road to Find is a creative journal for students founded by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Sonia Banker, Arts Justice Fellow. Its mission is to inspire and empower youth to express their
By Zaid Diaz-Arias Let’s get one thing clear: property taxes are a race issue. The city and state require landowners to pay property taxes, which directly fund social services like schools and mental health services. Property tax rules are controlled by the state and have historically been a contested issue. Property taxes are on the
YES ON 15 IS YES ON RACIAL JUSTICE Read More »
