Meet the 2023 Time for Change Youth Challenge All-Star Educators
The Ubuntu Café
Winner | Lizzie Hansen
LOCATION | Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Recognizing the importance of generosity and building global relationships, Lizzie Hansen, a 3rd grade teacher in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, established “The Ubuntu Cafe” to give students a space to be changemakers. This coffee shop operated by Hansen’s third graders focuses on practicing changemaking skills like relating to themselves and others and “sharing time, talents, and treasures.”
At the cafe, Hansen’s students fulfill orders, complete monetary transactions, and deliver orders to customers. Based in the importance of giving back, all profits made by the cafe are donated to a student chosen cause -- this year’s recipient being a 1st grade classroom in Kenya. The Ubuntu Cafe gives students the platform to collaborate, give back to a wider community, and currently supports the education of 10 Kenyan first graders.
Letting Students Lead
Winner | Patricia Vazquez
LOCATION | Columbus, Ohio
Patricia Vazquez, a 3rd grade teacher in Columbus, Ohio, has pushed barriers to create learning opportunities for educators in her school and promote changemaking activities to help students recognize their ability to create change. To unify her school against common goals, Patricia has taken on the “Letting Students Lead” mindset and has been awarded numerous grants allowing her students to address several issues and causes they care about.
From heading a PLC on growth mindset and establishing a school garden, to studying grassroots campaign models with students and dispersing first aid kits to the community, Patricia has raised meaningful topics and systemically marginalized communities. With each focus, Patricia grounds her students in the impact they have on others and fostering changemaking traits like teamwork, decision making, creativity, and leadership. Patricia continues to support her students’ passion projects and meet diverse needs in student centered learning."
Paxtang Pumas and Rutherford Cubs…full STEAM ahead!
Winner | Karyn Bashore
LOCATION | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
With a passion for STEAM education, Karyn, an elementary librarian in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has integrated relevant activities, events, and literature choices into her school and community -- changing the learning landscape. As an educator serving students from 1st through 5th grade, Karyn has paired award-winning literature with STEAM activities, nurturing changemaking skills like problem solving, teamwork, and leadership.
By combining students’ unique backgrounds in a collaborative STEM environment, students are empowered to create solutions and have developed a passion to help others. Karyn has witnessed the adoption of a changemaker mindset in her students and plans to scale her funding opportunities to host a STEAM school club, perform community outreach about the importance of STEAM education in workforce readiness, and develop more brilliant changemakers. Karyn has been recognized for her passionate investment by her school and was honored with the Whitaker Center for Arts and Science Women of Impact award for her work in STEM education.
A Little Free Library for All!
Winner | Ha Trinh
LOCATION | Los Angeles California
After hearing feedback from their students about their lack of books at home, Mrs. Trinh, a Kindergarten through 2nd grade teacher in Los Angeles, California, started “A Little Free Library for All!” box to expand book access to all students in their school. By making books more accessible, the little library helps foster a love of reading, builds a reading community, and inspires readers.
The library box also addresses the shortage of school librarians and offers insights to parents about what books are appropriate and of interest to their children. Mrs. Trinh surveyed students on books they would like to read and curated the little library from the First Book Marketplace based on that list. They have seen increased interest in the little library from teachers and students alike, leading Mrs. Trinh to expand and add new books each week.
