7 minute read
Closter Student Advocates For Equality Through Art
By Kimberly Redmond
As an Asian American female, Ishikaa Kothari is no stranger to the social injustices that minorities face.
Growing up, the 17-year-old from Closter said she has encountered “interpersonal sexism and racism” throughout her life.
“What was worse is that I did not realize that this harassment can be considered or connected to racism because of the lack of education I received on such an incredibly important topic,” said Kothari, who attends Riverdale Country School in the Bronx, N.Y.
Drawing upon her own experiences, the teen has spent her high school career focused on creating impactful and lasting change.
Part of that effort has included launching a non-profit that seeks to empower youth to advocate for themselves and causes they believe in. It has also involved using her love of art to create public murals that help advance social justice issues.
Recently, the teen received some much-deserved recognition from the National Society of High School Scholars, one of the top international honors and scholarship programs in the world.
Out of 500 applicants this year, Kothari was one of five who received a $1,000 Activism and Advocacy scholarship, which is given to graduating high school seniors who have shown passion for social, political or civil change and then acted within their communities.
Take Action Takes Off
A growing number of young people are gravitating toward activism and are more engaged now than they have been in generations, according to a survey conducted by MTV and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Across the United States, teens are speaking out in critical cultural and political movements ranging from social justice and climate change to fair pay and equity in education.
After seeing students speak on stage at a March for Our Lives rally, a then 14-year-old Kothari realized that with the right support systems in place youth have the ability to effect meaningful change.
Her desire to encourage students to pursue activism led to the creation of Take Action Inc., a non-profit that aims to empower youth around the world to advocate
Since its August 2019 launch, the youth-led group now has chapters in New Jersey, New York, California, India and Thailand and has a global reach of about 80,000 people.
“By informing youth on social justice issues, such as mass incarceration, gun violence and misogynoir, through accessible, comprehensive educational materials, connecting them with experienced activists for mentorship and providing a supportive activist network, we empower and assist youth to take action for a cause meaningful to them and create transformative change in their local communities,” said Kothari, who serves as Take Action Inc.’s president.
“To help youth movements grow and make a greater impact, we provide them with consulting on organizing, fundraising, and outreach. Overall, providing educational materials, a supportive activist network of 50,000-plus people, and mentorship, we help youth realize their unlimited potential to create meaningful change,” she explained.
Combining Art & Activism
Kothari, who has been involved with art since she was a young girl, is also using her creative voice to speak out on issues of racial and social justice.
Her “artivism” – a combination of art and activism – involves murals that address problems like gun violence, gender inequality and racism.
The medium, she believes, is a way to “bring us together in dialogue” because they are freely displayed in public locations, as opposed to exhibited in museums or private spaces.
“Whether through my own art, or by studying and championing others’ work, I want to ensure that uncomfortable but important truths are discussed,” she explained.
Kothari first became interested in muralism in eighth grade, when she created two murals for the Town of Closter as part of her Girl Scout Silver Award project.
Motivated by increased anxiety over school shootings in the U.S. and enhanced safety procedures, Kothari said she wanted to “empower our community and celebrate the diversity that helped us
Ishikaa Kothari
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Working with town officials and school administrators, Kothari spearheaded the creation of two gigantic murals against gun violence that were displayed in two municipal parks, Memorial and Ruckman.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kothari has transformed her ideas into paintings instead of murals. Two of those pieces, “Gender Inequality in Politics” and “Drowning In High School,” were recently featured in The Bronx Museum of Art.
She is also working on a mural at Riverdale Country School that highlights the importance of racial justice activists throughout history. Her creation will also convey that “the fight is far from over,” Kothari said.
This fall, the high school senior plans to attend Yale University, where she hopes to continue her social justice work. Besides continuing to grow Take Action Inc., Kothari aims to produce more murals that convey “the plight and accomplishments of marginalized people.”
She admits that juggling her schoolwork with advocacy work can be “difficult at times,” but that running Take Action Inc. and mural-making are activities she enjoys.
“Not only am I passionate about them, but also, they have the potential to empower and inspire myself and others to create transformative change,” Kothari added.
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Out of 500 applicants this year, Kothari was one of five who received a $1,000 Activism and Advocacy scholarship, which is given to graduating high school seniors who have shown passion for social, political or civil change and then acted within their communities.
As for her recognition from the NSHSS, the humble teen said, “I honestly did not even know if I deserved it, considering there are countless youth activists that I look up to.”
“They are changing the world for the better and deserve the support and recognition, too,” she added.
Nicky Enright, an art teacher at Riverdale Country School, believes Kothari is already an influential changemaker.
“Her work as a youth-centered activist requires more than a combination of positive traits – her work is a calling, which she answers loud and clear; she is gifted in service and advocacy,” Enright said.
Besides leading Take Action Inc. and creating art, Kothari is also deeply involved in her school’s community, serving as an organizer of assemblies and panels, frontpage editor of the newspaper and founder of Take Action RCS, an offshoot of the larger non-profit.
“Ishikaa is diligently changing the world while inspiring youth to truly engage with the issues they care about,” he said.
