By Leah Mordehai and Nellie Fouksman

Slavic Voice 4 Ukraine, a youth-led journalism and cultural storytelling organization founded by two San Francisco high schoolers, continues to grow its presence across the City. What began as a small effort to share youth perspectives on culture, identity and the war in Ukraine has become a larger movement connecting students across the world. 

This month, our team focused on bringing community engagement directly into schools in San Francisco while strengthening our network of young advocates throughout California and beyond. With each new event, chapter and collaboration, we see more young people stepping into leadership roles, shaping narratives and using their voices to influence public understanding.

One of the highlights of this month was a presentation hosted at University High School (UHS) in San Francisco by our co-founder, Leah Mordehai, who also founded the Slavic Voice club on her own campus. Leah spoke with students about the origins of Slavic Voice 4 Ukraine, the power of youth-led journalism, and the ways cultural storytelling can deepen understanding of global issues. The discussion opened space for students to reflect on their own histories and ask questions about advocacy, identity and community involvement.

Alongside this event, Slavic Voice 4 Ukraine officially launched two new high school clubs in San Francisco at George Washington High School (GWHS) and Abraham Lincoln High School (ALHS). These clubs mark an important expansion of our mission because they create permanent, student-run spaces where young people can explore identity, lead projects and contribute to cultural education. At GWHS and ALHS, students are organizing events, sharing personal stories, conducting interviews, writing articles and collaborating with peers from across our national and international chapter network. By giving students access to these tools to these clubs helps young people develop confidence in their writing, their leadership skills and their ability to engage in civic conversations.

For many students, this is the first time their voice will be published, or their perspective will be included in discussions about culture and global issues. Our new clubs ensure that youth who may not have had a platform before, whether because of language barriers, immigration experiences or lack of access to mentorship, can now participate in building a public narrative. The impact of these clubs is not just local programming; it is the creation of a generation of young leaders who understand that their voice matters in advocacy spaces, community conversations and civic life.

As Slavic Voice 4 Ukraine continues to expand, we remain focused on the mission that began it all: uplifting youth voices and bringing global conversations into local classrooms. Our partnerships with organizations such as Nova Ukraine, SUSTA, Civvis Unplugged, along with our invitations to Washington, D.C., to present youth perspectives to Senate offices, reflect the growing impact of youth-led advocacy. Through these opportunities, young people in our network gain firsthand experience in public policy, cultural diplomacy and community storytelling. But no matter how far our network reaches, San Francisco remains the heart of our work. It is the place that shaped our identity, our values and our belief that young people can lead cultural change.

This month marks another step in building a movement grounded in empathy, education, and community connection. With the launch of our new clubs and the enthusiasm of students across the city, we are confident that the next wave of youth leaders is already emerging. We look forward to seeing how students at UHS, GWHS and ALHS continue to grow this work, share their stories, and push our mission forward. As we expand, we hope to see even more school clubs form across the City and beyond, and we welcome any students interested in joining our work or starting a chapter at their own school. New members can sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScM4rPI55BQDFK9uF8R4dhf3mr9EnRCIUoZheoY51DzgNJFmw/viewform

Leah Mordehai and Nellie Fouksman can be reached at voiceslavic@gmail.com.