The program was born out of a request by both the community and the district to include student voice at the table when seeking solutions to the systemic and cultural crisis that continues to disenfranchise and marginalize African American, Latino, and Indigenous students, educators, and administrators within DPS. This program exclusively serves students who identify as African American, American Indian, Latino/Chicano, or otherwise identify as a person-of-color.

Utilizing the SVL action civics model, YAALL representatives learn to analyze policy, conduct independent research, and propose policy solutions in order to interrupt the school-to-prison pipeline, and close the opportunity gap. In addition to youth-led policy solutions and advocacy, YAALL representatives provide consultation to the Board of Education, the Office of the Superintendent, and city officials.

Microaggressions in the Classroom is a student-led YAALL training for DPS educators to unlearn certain actions and language that isolates students-of-color, and perpetuates the school-to-prison-pipeline. The training equips educators to become better allies in the classroom and school community by providing them with practical tools to create a more inclusive, equitable learning environment in order to better nurture and advocate for students-of-color.