14-year-old Erin Kawata will share her voice at the National Education Summit after earning national recognition for her storytelling work
At just 14 years old, Erin Kawata will soon contribute to conversations on a national stage.
This summer, she will serve as one of three student panelists at the Smithsonian National Education Summit, an annual event that brings together more than 1,000 participants ranging from educators and researchers to policymakers. Held July 14-16 in Washington, D.C., the summit highlights innovative ideas and diverse perspectives in education from across the country.
Erin was chosen from a pool of more than 3,000 students who have participated in the Smithsonian’s Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange (DiDVE) program since its launch in 2024. Her recognition stems from a video project examining the closure of Downtown Home & Garden, a topic she explored through the lens of community impact and civic dialogue.
“I feel really grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Erin said, sitting in a room at Community High last week. “I never imagined something like this would come out of trying something new.”
Her journey into the program began with a simple connection. After learning about the Democracy in Dialogue course through a friend’s mother, Erin was intrigued by the opportunity to explore topics she cared about more deeply.
“I thought, ‘Oh, this is cool. I can explore more things that I love to do,” she said. “I got to do interviews and research to create my documentary, and the whole experience has been such an amazing roller coaster.”
Through the program, Erin accessed unique resources and conducted in-depth research, including visits to the University of Michigan’s Bentley Library. She interviewed former community members and worked with historians, archivists, and local experts to bring her project to life.
“I never thought I would be doing this as a freshman,” she said. “Everyone has been so supportive, and I’ve just been loving the whole experience. I am so grateful to my teachers at Community and Pioneer for always being so supportive and flexible, so that I have been able to try everything that I am interested in.”
This year marks the first time the Smithsonian has invited student panelists to participate in the summit, placing Erin among what organizers describe as an “inaugural group” of youth voices. She will join a graduating senior from North Carolina and a rising senior from Massachusetts for a virtual session titled “Youth Voices: Stories from the Exchange.”
On the summit’s official website, Erin is listed alongside adult speakers from across the nation, a testament to the value of student perspectives in shaping meaningful conversations about education and community.
Erin credits much of her growth and willingness to take on new challenges to the educators and coaches who encouraged her along the way.
“I thank Slauson science teacher Mrs. Vivian Lee for encouraging me to find something new in high school and reminding me that opportunities aren’t always guaranteed,” Erin said. “And I thank Slauson girls soccer coach Darcy Crain for always being my inspiration and giving me the power to thrive and be confident in myself. Without them, I wouldn’t have even tried this CR course, which eventually rewarded me with this huge Smithsonian panelist position that I had never imagined.
She also points to lessons learned on the soccer field as key to her success.
Erin says her experience as a JV soccer player at Pioneer has helped prepare her for the demands of presenting on a national platform.
“With a live session, I really have to bring my 100 percent focus, and put my all into that 50-minute session, on the day, on the spot,” she said. “In that sense, my experience as a JV soccer player at Pioneer this season will contribute tremendously to it. So I thank my coaches this year, Coaches Justine Menk, Marc Smith, Phil Soong, and Andy Irvine. My coaches taught me to give everything 100 percent and treat every opportunity like a one-shot chance.”
The Smithsonian National Education Summit offers both virtual and hybrid opportunities for attendees. Registration is free, making it accessible to educators, students, and community members interested in engaging with the event’s programming from anywhere in the world.
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