
Our Turn
Model & Strategy
Our Turn (formerly Students for Education Reform) trains young people on effective organizing and advocacy practices to amplify their voices – with student leaders and members playing significant roles in advancing education issues and policy changes both locally and nationally. The organizing model facilitates a deep understanding of issues facing students and arms them with skills and confidence to mobilize on behalf of what they believe.
Our Turn builds a base of young people with the goal of fostering long-term relationships in the community. Their programmatic model is strategically designed to 1) Train young leaders how to promote public discourse around their agenda and effectively argue that agenda; 2) Help students learn how to negotiate and understand the importance of compromise; 3) Teach student leaders how to conduct effective “research actions”, other local actions, as well as direct action with education and civic leaders in their communities; 4) Unlock student power to focus these efforts towards holding education decision-makers accountable; and 5) Compel local school boards, state-level education leaders, and the federal Department of Education to formally recognize Our Turn’s student demands which will pave the way for student-designed education change in the coming years.



In 2009, Alexis Morin and Catharine Bellinger, along with students at Princeton University, started a club to foster campus conversation about solving the achievement gap. They grew to 20 campuses and launched a nonprofit in 2011. Alexis and Catharine were listed on Forbes 30 Under 30 and Time Magazine’s 12 Education Leaders to Watch in 2012.
Mohan Sivaloganathan joined Our Turn in 2019 after leading game-changing initiatives as the Northeast Executive Director of The Mission Continues and Chief Development Officer at Sheltering Arms Children and Family Services. Mohan was named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by the New York nonprofit community and a Next Generation Leader by the Human Services Council.
IMPACT
Our Turn is the nation’s leading movement of young people fighting for education justice. They activate the power of students – over 85% are students of color – to bring about real, transformative change in the education system.
Our Turn has engaged or impacted more than one million students.
Our Turn played a lead role in inspiring Denver Public Schools (DPS) to dedicate $1.5 million to fund a pilot program that will staff counselors to support students and improve mental health outcomes in schools.
Our Turn students recently presented the Raise Your Hand Student Agenda directly to the Federal Department of Education, elevating their demands on a national level.
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RT @AmericasPromise: How can philanthropy fuel the fight for education justice? Check out this blog post from @OurTurnNatl to learn more! #…
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Our Turn is #hiring! Are you, or do you know a self-starter who loves to learn and is always curious about how mak… https://t.co/hsITXje58C
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One thing that many lawmakers seem to not be able to get right is listening. Listening to students and student asse… https://t.co/81pFHlRRmu
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RT @ProudTwinkie: Every student that has ever spoken at every school board meeting i have been to wants to stop book bans and protect queer…
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Check out the full conversation between Our Turn Communications Fellow James Wilson and #LGBTQ+ ally/activist Sande… https://t.co/OnpezJzp4V
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RT @LearnfromHist: @OurTurnNatl is hosting a Truth(Ed) Action Hour on May 12! Join to share your story, connect with students across the co…
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RT @PIEnetwork: Sometimes family is our biggest inspiration. Network Exec @iamahmen of @OurTurnNatl shares how his dad’s lived experience d…
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We had the same question. What message are South Carolina lawmakers sending to students as they ban the teaching o… https://t.co/uDLi2GOr82
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So the SC government can observe a holiday for the confederacy AND introduce a #crt ban bill? Make it make sense!… https://t.co/fiYEM8yLRT
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RT @georgiayouthco: 🧵📋🏳️🌈 "Georgia Coalition Statement Supporting Trans Youth After GHSA's Vote to Discriminate Against Transgender Stude…
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A significant step toward closing the digital divide for low-income children and families. A divide worsened by the… https://t.co/am76aJPVk2
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RT @OurTurnNatl: Devaluing education and restricting access to care is the complete opposite of setting youth up for a healthy, successful…
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Devaluing education and restricting access to care is the complete opposite of setting youth up for a healthy, succ… https://t.co/UO9yBlZ3Qi
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RT @citizenstewart: One of the most touching and successful acts of #ThankABlackTeacher can be found in Quinta Brunson's ode to her middle-…
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Happy #AAPIHeritageMonth! The contributions and history of the #AAPI community is deeply embedded in the fabric of… https://t.co/RbOfoU3v3f
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RT @shanlonwu: Good time to remember that ordinary people of color pioneered our modern Constitutional rights by bringing legal cases again…
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RT @NCYLnews: Happy #TeacherAppreciation Week! We are especially grateful for our educators who are committed to #TeachingTruth! This month…