The outcome of the 2024 presidential election hit hard. The results brought a wave of emotions—disappointment, frustration, and, for me, a deeper conviction that the current systems shaping our future need reimagining. More than ever, I am convinced that we need places like Natural Creativity and other alternative learning spaces that prioritize the growth and empowerment of young people rather than training them to merely comply.
A Personal Reflection: Seeking an Alternative
Today, the best part of my day wasn’t spent scrolling through election news or dissecting the results. It was being with young people—visiting our local grocery store, chatting with neighbors, and spending time in the park. These small moments felt grounding and hopeful, a stark contrast to the systemic issues that feel overwhelming at times.
As a teacher, teacher coach, and now a nonprofit leader in an alternative education space, I came to this work because I needed an alternative. I needed a way out of the systems I saw shutting young people down and shutting them off—even by well-meaning educators. What I witnessed was often not limited to one-off interactions or strained long-term relationships but embedded in systemic issues: over-reliance on standardized testing, ineffective student-teacher ratios, and rigid, outdated curricula.
Natural Creativity represents a different path. It offers young people the space to heal, discover their passions, and explore their potential without the constant pressure to conform. And after this election, I am reminded of how urgently we need spaces like this.
A Broken System Focused on Compliance
For decades, traditional educational systems have been designed to produce a compliant workforce. This structure prioritizes rote memorization, standardized testing, and a narrow view of history, leaving little room for creativity, critical thinking, or the skills necessary for a truly informed and empowered citizenry. While these systems excel at control, they often fail to inspire curiosity, nurture individuality, or equip young people to challenge the status quo.
But in the wake of this election, one thing is painfully clear: we don’t need more compliance. We need innovation, collaboration, and the courage to think and act differently. These skills are not cultivated in spaces where young people are rewarded for following rules and punished for stepping outside of them. Instead, they flourish in environments that celebrate curiosity, foster critical thinking, and encourage risk-taking—places like Natural Creativity.
The Need for Empowered and Informed Citizens
A functioning democracy depends on citizens who are both empowered and informed. Empowered citizens understand their agency—they know they can influence change and take action to improve their communities. Informed citizens don’t just memorize facts; they understand context, analyze systems, and draw connections between history and the present. These abilities aren’t cultivated by simply regurgitating dates and formulas on a test. They’re built through exploration, dialogue, and engagement with the real world.
At Natural Creativity, we foster these qualities by centering the needs and interests of young people. We provide a space where they can learn not just what to think, but how to think. They are encouraged to ask big questions, challenge assumptions, and pursue projects that matter to them. In doing so, they develop the confidence to navigate uncertainty, collaborate with others, and stand firm in their values—all essential traits for shaping a better future.
Why Alternative Learning Spaces Matter
Natural Creativity is one of many alternative learning spaces challenging the traditional mold. These spaces create environments where young people are not only allowed but encouraged to think for themselves. They aren’t pressured to fit into rigid categories or adhere to outdated systems of control. Instead, they’re supported in discovering their unique strengths, exploring their passions, and engaging with the world in meaningful ways.
These spaces:
Nurture Creativity: Instead of stifling imagination with conformity, they allow young people to experiment, fail, and innovate.
Encourage Collaboration: Learning happens in community, where young people can exchange ideas, solve problems together, and build strong social bonds.
Teach Critical Thinking: By focusing on self-directed projects and inquiry, young people learn to question assumptions, evaluate information, and develop their own perspectives.
Foster Self-Agency: Young people learn that their voices matter, their choices have power, and their actions can create change.
The Urgency of Now
The stakes have never been higher. The challenges we face—climate change, systemic inequality, threats to democracy—demand solutions that cannot be found within the confines of outdated systems. They require bold, creative thinking and collective action. The next generation must be prepared not to comply but to lead.
Natural Creativity and similar spaces provide the foundation for this leadership. They equip young people to see problems not as insurmountable barriers but as opportunities for innovation. They teach them to value collaboration over competition and to embrace differences as a strength. They inspire them to dream bigger and act braver.
A Call to Action
As I reflect on the outcome of this election, I feel an urgent need to advocate for more spaces like Natural Creativity. These are places where young people can heal, grow, and prepare to take on the challenges of our world—not by following the same old rules, but by rewriting them. It’s time to invest in education that values curiosity over compliance, critical thinking over conformity, and empowerment over obedience.
If we want a better future, we must nurture it in the present. That means creating and supporting spaces where young people can become not just students, but changemakers, innovators, and leaders. It means believing in their potential and giving them the freedom to realize it.
This election has strengthened my resolve to fight for a world where every young person has access to that kind of education. It’s a fight worth taking on, and it’s one I know we can win—together.