In July and August, I participated in Princeton’s Recognizing Inequities and Standing for
Equality (RISE) program. Organized by the Pace Center for Civic Engagement, the RISE pairs participants with a community organization that works to address societal inequities. I was paired with the TJ Alumni Action Group (TJAAG).
TJAAG is a grass-roots alumni group of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (TJHSST), a STEM magnet which frequently ranks at or near the top of national high school rankings. TJHSST works on a merit-based admissions system, with a first-round test and second-round holistic review that takes STEM interests (measured thought student essays), middle school grades, two teacher recommendations, and test scores into account. The number of Black, Hispanic, and low-income students admitted every year is persistently low; almost always in the single digits within a class of ~480.
TJAAG’s mission is to increase equity at TJ. This is done from multiple angles — from re-evaluating the admissions process, working on applicant engagement, to increasing the school’s culture of inclusivity to better support under-represented minorities when they arrive. Each angle has its own work group behind it, led by a TJ alumnus volunteer. I worked primarily with the “Culture of Inclusivity” and “Applicant Engagement” groups. I also worked to coordinate between the efforts of all work groups.
Throughout the experience, the PACE center offered a series of discussions and resources to support us in our community work. I found these to be very helpful because they connected me to other RISE fellows and provided an organized space to discuss, celebrate, and learn from each other. The discussions in our hour-long groups sessions were difficult; they demanded respect, vulnerability, and humility. I often felt uncomfortable. However, through these sessions I heard from perspectives different, which led me to question facets of my own perspective on racial justice and service that I take for granted. Additionally, the conversations in our PACE sessions influenced the ideas I brought to working sessions of TJAAG.
In all, my summer work with RISE was productive and meaningful. Working with TJAAG allowed me to reconnect with my high school and meet many inspiring alumni who served as mentors. TJAAG is entirely grass-roots, starting from an alumni Facebook group, and it was instructive to see how energy and buzz on social media can be leveraged to take action and elicit change. I can be very cynical of online activism and Facebook discussion threads, but I now see first-hand the work that intentional involvement can produce. What stood out to me most about the process was how much sheer effort it takes to organize and mobilize. Even after everything that is done, there is always more that can be done. Managing that potential is both inspiring and exhausting. It gives me huge respect for all the TJAAG volunteers who shoulder the responsibility of justice work on top of their family and career commitments, my fellow RISE participants who dedicated a summer engaged in this work, and to the people have made work for community groups a constant part of their lives.