by Hayley Wong, AUSD Communications Intern
“Be The Change” student fellows from Mark Keppel High School and other AUSD schools gathered for a day of learning, leadership, and advocacy during the recent Fellowship Summit held at East LA College. From interactive activities to powerful peer-to-peer discussions, students showed they are ready to lead the way in promoting teen traffic safety. (Photo Credit: AUSD Communications Interns Suna Kwan and Karlie Yonemoto)
“Change starts with an individual,” said Sean Duryee, Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol, during the press conference at the Be The Change Fellowship Summit. On April 2, during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Alhambra Unified School District partnered with Impact Teen Drivers, California Highway Patrol, Office of Traffic Safety, and the California Department of Public Health to host Be The Change. The event empowered student leaders to raise awareness about the leading cause of teen fatalities: car crashes.
Over 100 students (primarily from Mark Keppel High School) joined community leaders and elected officials to advocate for safer roads. Speakers including Commissioner Duryee, Monterey Park Mayor Vinh Ngo, and Mark Keppel Principal Alejandra Perez opened the summit by encouraging students to embrace their potential as changemakers.
Two standout student leaders, Keiko Rakin and Kevin Tang, were honored as Be The Change “Fellows of the Year” for their commitment to teen traffic safety. Following their participation in last year’s summit, they continued to put their learning into action, culminating in their roles as featured panelists at a National Road Safety conference. Their leadership exemplified the power of youth voices and inspired others to step into advocacy roles.
Kicking off the program, students learned about the often-overlooked risks of being a passenger or multitasking while driving. Through emotional real-life testimonials and hands-on demonstrations, they saw how a momentary distraction can lead to life-altering, and sometimes, deadly consequences. The summit aimed to highlight that everyone in a vehicle, both drivers and passengers, play a crucial role in keeping the roads safe.
Interactive activities challenged students to navigate distractions and recognize the responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel. These experiences helped students understand that safe driving is not just about following the rules, but about making thoughtful choices in every moment. These fellows “have learned how to use strategies to really have that peer-to-peer influence,” said Stephanie Dougherty, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “They are probably the best and [most] trusted voices to make a difference.”
The summit also emphasized “Positive Community Norming,” encouraging students to speak up and support their peers in making safe choices. Advocates shared techniques for shifting cultural attitudes around driving, aiming to create environments where safety is the expectation and not the exception.
By the end of the event, the Be The Change Fellows left with renewed confidence in their ability to influence their peers and spark real change. They will follow up with outreach activities at their sites and throughout the community. Adult leaders were equally moved by the students’ passion and poise. “I’ve been inspired as I had an opportunity to interact with these young people today,” said Commissioner Duryee. “They truly are leaders in their community and they are the next generation of leaders that will be the change.
