“We believe that to confront the challenges our communities face, people- not just their advocates- need to define issues and develop strategies for action. They are nothing but institutions where adults run and tell you what you need to know in order to continue this tradition of, this cycle of “we have master’s degrees and we know what’s best for you so just shut up and deal with it.” - High school student, as quoted by Rubin and Silva “Without the voice of students, schools serve no purpose. “Education should not be the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” - William Butler Yeats

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson, as written for Nelson Mandela. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. It is not just in some of us it is in everyone. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. We are all meant to shine, as children do. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. Your playing small does not serve the world. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Education is neither Eastern nor Western, it is human.” - Malala Yousafzai We should learn everything and then choose which path to follow. The wish to preserve the past rather than the hope of creating the future dominates the minds of those who control the teaching of the young. “It is because modern education is so seldom inspired by a great hope that it so seldom achieves great results. The means used are not important to alienate human beings from their own decision-making is to change them into objects.” – Paulo Freire “Any situation in which some individuals prevent others from engaging in the process of inquiry is one of violence. “Students should not only be trained to live in a democracy when they grow up they should have the chance to live in one today.” - Alfie Kohn But they are far less than the long- range risks and costs of comfortable inaction. There are risks and costs to a program of action. Hate cannot drive out hate only love can do that.” - Rev. “Darkness cannot drive out hate only light can do that. “Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy it is absolutely essential to it.” ― Howard Zinn “The freedom and human capacities of individuals must be developed to their maximum but individual powers must be linked to democracy in the sense that social betterment must be the necessary consequence of individual flourishing.” - Henry Giroux “Its much more than being a farmer… you’re out to help people and make this little part of the world farm- able and productive, make your little street or block a better place, make the world healthier.” - A youth participant in GRuB “Yo, activism, attackin’ the system, the blacks and latins in prison Numbers of prison they victim lackin’ in the vision… Sh- and all they got is rappin to listen to…” - Talib Kweli Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.

“Washing ones hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.” - Paulo Freire I have a lot to learn from other people.” - Eduardo Galeano It respects the other and learns from the other. Charity is vertical, so it’s humiliating. If you have come to because your liberation is bound up in mine, we can work together.” - Lilla Watson “If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.” - Rev. Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions. “One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change. Only through action do words take meaning.

Anyway you read them, remember the working motto of the Freechild Institute: Or, they may simply be words of wisdom or advice. These quotes, both popular and unknown, may prove to be inspiring, thought- provoking insights that can inspire and motivate young people to take Action.

Quotes about growing up social justice