Student Voice in Action: Inside the Achieve Student Advisory Board
“Planning for life after high school can be confusing and overwhelming,” says Summer, a student at Roosevelt High School. “I want to help improve that process by sharing real student perspectives.”
That’s exactly what our Student Advisory Board is designed to do.
At Achieve Twin Cities, youth voice isn’t just something we talk about - it’s something we build into how we make decisions. The Student Advisory Board creates a space where students don’t just participate in programs; they help shape them.
Now in its third year, the advisory board brings together 14 students from Minneapolis and Saint Paul public schools, each with their own goals, experiences and ideas about what comes next after high school. They meet regularly with our staff to share honest feedback on career and college readiness programs, weigh in on how young people are represented in media, and help brainstorm everything from events to communications.
Their perspectives are real, unfiltered and often eye-opening.
“These student advisors help ensure that our work reflects the real needs, goals and realities of the young people we serve,” says Zoey Haines, our Student Advisory Board Coordinator and Program Manager for Strategy. “Their role isn’t symbolic. It’s essential.”
That hasn’t always been the case. In the past, student input often came through one-time surveys or focus group, which was valuable, but limited. The Student Advisory Board offers something different: consistency, by creating a place where students build trust, challenge ideas and see how their voices can influence real change over time.
For the student advisers, the impact goes both ways. They’re not only shaping Achieve programs - they're also building skills in leadership, communication and confidence. Just as importantly, they’re learning from each other by hearing how peers from different schools and backgrounds are navigating big decisions about their futures.
For Summer, that’s what makes the experience meaningful.
“I care deeply about making sure every student has access to opportunities, whether that’s college, a career or something in between,” she says. “This feels like a chance to be part of something bigger and help shape a system that works better for all of us.”
By making space for students as partners, not just program recipients, the Student Advisory Board is helping us stay grounded in what matters most: the real experiences, challenges and ambitions of the young people we serve.
Our tremendous thanks to our 2025-26 Student Advisory Board members for their creativity, expertise and dedication to advancing student voice and student success:
- Edison High School: Anas, Fuad and Imran
- Highland Park Senior High School: Miriam
- Humboldt High School: Bwy, Jamarquis, Paw Moo and Tha Say
- Johnson Senior High School: Ko, Kylie and Nee
- Roosevelt High School: Signe and Summer
- South High School: Marwa