After advocating for an alternative social studies course, teacher Jessica Kelly requested to offer a new course, through Nevada State University, for students interested in learning about inclusivity. Ethnic Studies teaches students to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for marginalized communities, diverse identities, and cultures.

“It’s scary, but important to educate [you all],” Kelly said. “That’s always been my end goal. I’m going to give you guys the vocabulary and the tools to be able to speak up for yourselves in certain situations.”

Kelly is already planning for future projects and assignments that focus on people of color who have flourished in different occupations.

“We’re doing ethnic immigration, history of ethnicity and race. We have [an] art project, I think is going to be so cool,” Kelly said. “All the stuff that we don’t really talk about [like] sports, rap artists, or their artistry within the different ethnic communities. What is their purpose and what has their impact been? I’m excited about that too.”

Using her extensive knowledge of United States history to create lesson plans and activities that are beneficial for her students; Kelly focuses on having her students’ interests at hand while following NSU guidelines.

“It also was hard considering the professors I was looking up to had absolutely horrible lesson plans,” Kelly said. “I didn’t have any guidance or any idea where to start but I focused on doing what the professors had in their curriculum, the right way.”

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Ayma Malik

"We learn about the things that you don't always learn about," junior Marc Chae said. "I like Ms. Kelly because she's very honest. She always tells us the truth about historical events."

Students are learning original curriculum created by Kelly, which explores the cultures of their peers. For example, they created posters to show their ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds.

“I’ve learned how to be more respectful towards other people, their cultures, and ethnicities,” junior Daniela Gonzalez said. “You don’t realize the experience people are going through based on something they can’t control, like their skin color and economic status.”

To ensure everyone’s voice in the course is being acknowledged, Kelly holds weekly discussions on readings based on the unit’s content.

“You have to get used to being uncomfortable, especially if we’re delving into this kind of territory,” senior Arvin Omolon said. “Be comfortable [with being] uncomfortable about these kinds of topics, because it’s going to happen often. You have to acknowledge the fact that you are uncomfortable with [these topics], but you have to learn about [them] because ultimately, the dirty truth about society is [that it is] racist.”

Once the course concludes at the end of the semester, the material will switch to Anthropology.

“I have spent much of my life learning about different races, ethnicities, and cultures through my own personal interest to collect knowledge of these things,” said Kelly. “The deeper connection I have is that two of my friends were killed by Neo-Nazis here in Las Vegas. I have always felt like it is my responsibility to share my interest in being anti-racist and solidify my passion for wanting to eliminate racism from our world.”