RCSD 8th Grader Selected for National Soapbox Showcase in Washington, D.C.

Farida Ismael, an 8th-grade RCSD student

Farida Ismael, an 8th-grade student at Thurgood Marshall Middle School, has earned a national spotlight.

She has been selected as one of just 12 students from across the country to participate in Soapbox Nation—a platform that amplifies youth perspectives on issues that matter most to them. Her selection comes with the opportunity to deliver her speech during a mainstage event at the National Youth Summit in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.

Farida is the first middle school student from the Rochester City School District to earn this national recognition through Soapbox Nation.

Farida will be joined at the National Youth Summit by Khandhia Smith, a student from School Without Walls, who was also selected to attend the summit.

Farida presented her speech on deportation during the RCSD’s Districtwide Project Soapbox showcase on March 12, where she was one of 45 student speakers across five breakout rooms. Her speech was selected as one of ten to be featured in the event’s mainstage presentation.

Following the showcase, Ken Porter, Mikva Challenge’s Partner Site Director for Rochester and Jefferson County, KY, and Ryan Keating, Executive Director of Social Studies for the Rochester City School District, nominated three of the standout RCSD speakers for Soapbox Nation. A panel of Mikva Challenge staff and partners reviewed nominations, and Farida was one of the select few chosen.

Project Soapbox is a partnership with the Mikva Challenge, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering youth.  

Farida’s speech, advocacy, and presence have already made an impact in Rochester. Now, she is about to share her message on a national stage.