As Rural Students Face Inequity, Programs Like RAZE Leaders Offer a Lifeline
- Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE)
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
In Sierra Vista, Arizona, a Latino high school student named Nicholas Reynoso shared his experience of being repeatedly pulled from class, searched, and questioned about suspected drug use by school staff. These experiences have left him and his family feeling targeted and unsupported in a predominantly white community.
“Some kids don’t know how to advocate for themselves. They don’t have parents who know how, either,” Nicholas said. “It shouldn’t have to be that way. I shouldn’t have to be an exception because I grew up that way or because I have a mom who’s taught me to speak up.”
His mother, Nicole Velasquez, has become a strong advocate not only for her son but for other students facing similar experiences. “There are so many disparities in the rural community because there is a lack of education for the youth. There’s a lack of education in the whole community,” she said. “At this point, I feel like it’s setting people up for failure. They cannot thrive in a community where they don’t feel welcome.”
Nicholas and his mother’s story is not unique. Many rural students encounter similar struggles when their needs and voices are overlooked in the systems meant to support them. Without meaningful support and space to speak up, these students can feel powerless to change the circumstances around them.
Research by Katherine Cumings Mansfield shows that for many students, particularly minoritized students, schools can mirror society’s inequities, perpetuating sexism, racism, and classism, rather than challenging them. Mansfield’s study discusses how students like Nicholas are often isolated by environments that fail to provide the supportive, affirming spaces they need to feel seen, heard, and valued. Without intentional efforts to create ‘safe spaces’, where relationships are built on trust, students’ voices are amplified, and crucial conversations about their experiences are encouraged, many youth are left feeling powerless and disconnected.
That’s why youth programs in rural spaces, like RAZE Leaders, are essential. RAZE Leaders is more than a leadership training initiative. It’s a space where students can feel safe, supported, and empowered. By creating an environment where rural youth are encouraged to speak up, form connections, and embrace their identities, RAZE Leaders disrupts the cycle of isolation that students like Nicholas face while also providing students the chance to build leadership and project management skills.
Students like Edel Ochoa, a former RAZE Leader from San Luis, Arizona, know the difference these programs make. While a recent Gallup report found that rural Gen Zers feel limited in their access to college and career opportunities and may believe they need to leave their communities to succeed, Edel is charting a different path. Inspired by his experience with RAZE Leaders, he’s chosen to stay in Yuma County to pursue higher education and to continue his leadership journey.
Through RAZE Leaders, Edel found not just a leadership program, but a safe space to grow. His time in the program gave him the confidence to embrace his voice and see a future for himself in his hometown. “Now I feel more capable, like more of a leader. It’s made me want to set higher goals. I’ve learned that we can all make a difference. Some people think they can’t make a difference, but if you set your mind to it, you can,” Edel said.
Edel’s growth was also shaped by the opportunities RAZE Leaders provided. He and his peers had the chance to travel to Washington, D.C., an experience that expanded their horizons far beyond their hometown. “The moment that stuck with me was going to the Lincoln Memorial. I’ve always seen it in movies, and knowing Martin Luther King gave his speech there meant a lot to me,” Edel said. “I felt like I was in another world.”
Closer to home, RAZE Leaders take students to Phoenix, Arizona, where they visit the State Capitol, meet lawmakers and community leaders, and learn how policies are made that affect their communities. These trips offer rural students a rare chance to engage with systems of power and see that their voices and experiences matter. They’re made possible thanks to the continuous support of community members, donors, and advocates who believe in the potential of rural youth and invest in their future.
Though RAZE Leaders is only offered to high school students, Edel’s journey doesn’t stop there. This past May, he graduated and will be continuing his education at a local college in Yuma County. Determined to stay involved in programs dedicated to empowering rural youth, he’s also joining our sister organization’s college-aged program, Rural Arizona Advocates, to keep building his leadership skills and supporting his community.
Edel’s story is an example of what’s possible when rural youth are given access to programs like RAZE Leaders. Programs that don’t just build leadership skills, but create safe spaces for students to connect, speak up, and shape their communities. They’re not only empowered to pursue higher education and career goals; they’re inspired to do so within their own communities, creating ripples of positive change.
As Oscar Peña, the RAZE Education Coordinator in Yuma County, shared, “Some students come in shy, and by the end, they’re confident speaking up and leading projects. RAZE gives them opportunities they might not get otherwise, and it shows them that they can make a difference.”
Currently, RAZE Leaders operates in Yuma, Pinal, and Coconino counties, but the need doesn’t stop there.
If you want to bring this program to your child’s school or community, contact Tara Brunson, RAZE’s Education Director, at tarabrunson@raze.org to learn how.
**Some quotes featured in this article were originally in Spanish and have been translated into English**
