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Founded in 2008, Washington D.C.-based nonprofit, SchoolTalk, is redefining what youth development can look like. The organization’s growing team of fifteen are well versed  in conflict resolution, assistive technology, and a range of  trauma-informed practices to help youth with and without disabilities achieve better learning outcomes. 

SchoolTalk’s RestorativeDC program focuses on implementing restorative justice practices within public and charter schools, while their InclusiveDC Initiative supports youth with disabilities through arts engagement and college preparedness. SchoolTalk boasts an impressive reach, providing over 8,000 hours of programming to middle and high school youth across 79 schools in the 2020-2021 school year alone.

A parent of a youth participant of SchoolTalk’s Jumpstart Program remarked, “My son loves music and photography, but he is still working on his social skills. Despite the program being virtual, it managed to keep him engaged and helped him to develop better social skills.” SchoolTalk has impacted not just the lives of so many students, but their parents and caregivers who faced new challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic.

SchoolTalk is remarkable for its ability to adapt to uncertain times. Since its founding, SchoolTalk has hosted an annual Voices for Change conference where youth with disabilities can connect on education, employment, and other topics. Working collectively with students and partners in 2021, the organization reimagined the experience as a virtual multimedia event, to the delight of 44 youth from eight schools. 

In an age where youth with disabilities and low-income children of color have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, SchoolTalk’s work is more vital than ever. With more and more students now struggling with increased social isolation, anxiety, and depression, and, SchoolTalk’s holistic approach to youth development and education is setting a national standard for excellence. Heading into another unpredictable school year, SchoolTalk is more than prepared to handle anything thrown their way.