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Student Voices, Lived Experiences

Current Projects
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Symposium Series

The Student Voices, Lived Experiences Symposium Series will feature several events centered upon the work of community and university partners working with youth on critical issues they confront in their daily lives and on their experiences in schools and neighborhoods. Each event will feature the lived experiences of youth in their voices and from their perspectives, as well as from the perspectives of adults in their communities and there will be multiple events throughout 2024 and 2025.

Student Voices, Lived Experiences Symposium Series

Join Field Center Faculty Director Dr. Caroline Watts and the Office of School and Community Engagement at Penn GSE for the “Student Voices, Lived Experiences” Symposium Series

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February 2024: Student Perspectives on Mass Incarceration (in collaboration with The Workshop School)

The Workshop School’s 10th grade students led a city-wide gathering of youth to explore the history, statistics, and policy on mass incarceration and its impact on them.

Event Recap

May 2024: Youth Documentary Film Explorations of Gun Violence (Shameka Sawyer’s 5 Shorts Project)

“Bout Mine I Matter Full Circle” is a succinct documentary that focuses on the profound experiences of three individuals: a survivor of gun violence, a person directly impacted by such violence, and an activist with a history of incarceration. This film aims to provide a comprehensive and insightful perspective on the issue of gun violence. A screening of this film was followed by a Q&A session with our youth participants, the producer, and activists featured in the documentary.

This event was co-sponsored by PennGSE’s Office of School and Community Engagement and HEARD (Hub for Equity, Anti-Oppression, Research and Development).

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December 2024: From Foster Care to College – The Experience of Students in Foster Care Transitioning to
Higher Education

For students in or aging out of foster care, transitioning to higher education can be especially challenging without resources and support. As the majority of youth in foster care aspire to attend college, effective policies and practice should be implemented to promote enhanced college attendance, retention, and graduation. In this session, you will hear from a panel of college students and/or graduates, each with experience in foster care, to share their insights about how the transition from high school to college and beyond can be supported for this population.

This event was co-sponsored by the Office of School and Community Engagement (OSCE) at PennGSE and the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at SP2.

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April 2025: From Community Solutions to National Change: A Film Series on Opioid Awareness & Action

Join us on April 16th and April 30th, 2025 at 5:30pm for a two-part documentary screening series, hosted by the Penn Graduate School of Education, Penn Injury Science Center, and Penn Medicine Center for Health Justice. Documentary screenings will be followed by panel discussions, Q&A, and other interactive exhibits and opportunities.

Event Information