The old adage that children “are to be seen and not heard” couldn’t be further from the truth on Thursday. That’s when about 60 San Fernando Valley high school students met deep in Griffith Park to address issues important to their lives and develop strategies to promote change despite many of them not old enough to vote.

It was less about spending a day away from the classroom and more about small peer groups sharing what causes they felt are worth fighting for, and what defines them as young people. All this a world that can be extremely stressful much of the time.

Students were chosen from Chatsworth, Granada Hills Charter and Valley Alternative Magnet high schools to participate in the first student-led “E-12 Leadership Summit,” which came out of a program developed by Los Angeles Councilmember Mitchell Englander.

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Topics included gun violence, the environment, peaceful demonstrations and politics. They shared ethnic and religious backgrounds, social media as an avenue to express oneself and the importance of exchanging ideas with others in healthy conversations and debates.

“My goal today was to open their eyes and try to show kids, teach kids and open their eyes to the idea that their voices can be heard,” Englander said. “Kids are actually afraid to go to school today. I can’t even fathom that. That’s insanity.”

Englander said he wanted to empower the students. They don’t have to wait until they are old enough to vote to be a part of change, he said.

Here’s what some of those students were saying:

Sarah Damon, 17, a junior at Granada Hills Charter High School

Damon realized the power of students after the Valentine’s Day shooting massacre at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

“I was impressed with students running and planning events by students for students and directed toward causes impacting students. Students are able to take control of the world around us, a world that we are about to be handed.”

Mary Jabagchourian, 18, a senior at Granada Hills Charter High School

Jabagchourian was surprised at the depth of the small-group discussions. She learned new things about some friends she didn’t know about earlier.

“After the Florida shooting I became more political aware about gun violence. I’m also passionate about recognizing the Armenian genocide. As a half (first) generation Armenian and American, fighting for the recognition of the genocide is a very beautiful thing because it’s the main thing that keeps our community together and supportive of each other. The genocide is an historical event that we need to recognize so that events like the genocide don’t happen in the future.”

Nathan Lopez, 18, a junior at Valley Alternative Magnet High School

Lopez’s crusade revolves around the stereotypical images that label males. He says boys learn from their family members, movies, magazines and posters they shouldn’t be tender and emotional. He wants to

change that image by starting with himself.

“Boys aren’t just an image of masculinity or power. They have feelings as well, and those feelings should be expressed and when they do they shouldn’t be made fun of, or bullied or called (derogatory) names.

It’s easier for boys to hate something …. but a boy should be able to say, ‘Hey. I really love that guy’.”

Sarah Tran, 15, a sophomore at Granada Hills Charter High School

Tran’s goal in life is to fight indifference and apathy.

“I’m still working out illegal immigration especially because some immigrants are coming here because their home countries aren’t safe. Partisan politics divide and we aren’t taking time to listen to the other

side and understand others’ point of view.”

Maanasi Shyno, 16, a junior at Granada Hills Charter High School

Shyno has been in America for the past 13 years, immigrating from India and yet she is only now realizing the power of having formal citizenship status. In the past her parents took care of what needed to be done, but as she gets older she is more aware of certain limitations that come without

having citizenship.

“The path of citizenship is real slow for some of us. I think of myself as Indian and American, but I don’t

have the status of citizenship. It’s still something of a barrier for me, but my status recently started to

move faster and now when I’m applying for college I have to face the reality of my status. I helps (lift) me up, because I don’t consider myself different than those around me; yet, I am.”