Rachel Farhat

Farhat’s creative teaching idea, “We Write Us: Lit Magazine for Marginalized Students,” involves the launch of Joe T. Robinson High School’s first-ever literary magazine/zine, a student-centered project designed to showcase a diverse range of the students’ interests, backgrounds and experiences. Supported by the Voya grant, the magazine is designed to amplify the unique voices of the student body. According to Farhat, the journalism students will lead every stage: collecting submissions, editing, designing and managing distribution. They’ll collaborate with the art, music and English departments, building leadership and organizational skills while creating something that truly represents their school and community. Farhat hopes the innovative project will give students the chance to shape a publication that reflects their stories, their culture and their creativity — giving marginalized voices a space to be celebrated and empowering students to take pride in their perspectives and in the power of their collective voice.