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A senior at St. Louis Park High School, Asha Mohamed has spent much of her high school career learning how to have difficult conversations. 

It started when she wrote an article accusing her school’s student newspaper of not featuring a representative number of authors who were students of color. Her vice principal and a teacher called her to the office to participate in what they said would be a restorative circle. But to Asha, it just felt like she was being ganged up on. 

When one of Asha’s school advisors heard about the experience, she came to Asha’s defense, but she also suggested Asha learn more about what a restorative circle actually is. Asha agreed and has since spent time getting trained in the practice. 

“It's mostly student voice, which I really like,” Asha said. “We even lead other students and teach them… I feel like they're more impactful than like suspension and stuff, because you actually get to talk about what happened and you kind of like see your fault in it, or you see how somebody did you wrong. It's very impactful.”

Asha has seen other districts implement restorative circle conversations and student boards in ways that she thinks are effective. And she wants to bring those practices to her school, setting up safe rooms where students can confront teachers or other students about their experiences and learn from their mistakes. 

Getting trained in restorative circle work has also given her the confidence to speak up for herself and others on a variety of topics, including race. 

“I'm never uncomfortable about a conversation with race, because…wherever humans are present race is present… I'm definitely comfortable with doing that, like no matter what the space is … that's why I think of myself as a leader.”

This story is part of a series produced with support from the Education Writers Association Reporting Fellowship program.

Social Issues

Conversations around race and racial justice

Elizabeth Shockman

Author

MPR News education reporter Elizabeth Shockman talked to eight Minnesota student activists about their work. In this series, MPR News introduces you to the students, their activism and how they're shaping the state.

Difference maker Asha Mohamed: ‘I'm never uncomfortable about a conversation with race’

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