Giving Compass' Take:

• Getting Smart profiles inspiring students who are cultivating their voices and showing leadership in their communities when it comes to marginalization, design thinking, innovation and making a difference. 

• How can we help support our youth to start thinking about how they might implement change in their community?

• Here's an article on supporting youth organization and the leadership pipeline. 

Taliq Tillman is an outspoken sophomore at an Ivy League college and the co-founder of Diversity Talks, a nonprofit that gives voice to marginalized students. Tillman described to an audience at the University of Pennsylvania how traditional education—including the best known colleges—often marginalizes students of color like him by making faulty assumptions about what they can and can’t do.

Tillman found his voice at the MET High School in Providence, R.I. “Teachers actually listened to me,” Tillman said. “I had four years where I had the same advisor, and I was able to text him whenever I needed him. When I was applying to colleges, he actually came to my home because he understands that students like me just need someone to believe in them, to tell them you are good enough, that despite everything you have been through, you are smart, you are intelligent.”

The MET is the flagship school of the Big Picture network, where teachers craft learning pathways “one kid at a time.” At the MET, Tillman developed his leadership skills participating in several internships and community connected projects.

Tillman was one of 10 youth leaders that facilitated Catalyst Conversations at a #FutureofWork convening hosted by Getting Smart, ISTE and Catalyst@Penn GSE.

Read the full article about inspiring youth leadership by Emily Liebtag and Tom Vander Ark at Getting Smart.