Advocate gets new look

New Look!

You may have noticed that we’ve made some changes to the printed layout of The Advocate this issue. This entire issue (32 pages plus covers) was created, designed, and produced by seven students. The layout and design were spearheaded by Riana and Angel, but this issue was more of genuinely collaborative effort than I’ve seen in my 20 years as adviser. Everyone contributed time, ideas, and hard work to make it happen. They didn’t always agree on everything, but they worked together by sharing ideas, critiquing, and compromising for the purpose of putting out this special issue. We hope you like the new look, we hope you enjoy reading the stories and seeing the photos, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions.

About the cover:

Given the current political climate across the country, we decided that we wanted the cover to reflect what we think is the overall message/climate/mood/atmosphere of Lincoln High – that feeling of belonging. It doesn’t mean that we all always get along or that there are never any conflicts or problems. It does mean that whoever you are, wherever you’re from, whatever you background is, and wherever you’re going, you belong here. You’re welcome here. This is where you should be. It doesn’t mean giving up who you were before you came here, and it doesn’t mean that you have to fit someone else’s expectations of what you should look like or sound like or act like. It means appreciating the uniqueness of others and maybe adding some of those characteristics to yourself. It means listening to, and respecting, a variety of opinions as well as sharing your own.

It means expanding your concept of the world and our place in it. The students pictured on the cover represent the diversity of our student body.

These past couple of months have been (and continue to be) stressful for many students and staff (and their families). There is a lot of uncertainty these days in many aspects of our lives, and there may be more to come, but we want all students at Lincoln High to feel that this is where they belong. The chain that is the symbol of our school is a constant reminder that we are stronger together and that we can weather any storm if we support each other. We are enriched by our

diversity. It’s what makes us who we are as a school and as a country. Now, more than ever, we need to embrace that diversity and see it for the incredible gift that it is.

Our job at The Advocate, as the voice of Lincoln High, is to inform our community. It’s right there in our name. We are here to be an advocate for you. We’ve started the hashtag #WeBelong, and we want to hear from you. Using social media, share with us your stories about a time or a situation when you felt like you really belonged at Lincoln High.

Join the conversation on Twitter @LHSAdvocate and on Instagram at LinksNewspaper. We’ll also continue telling your stories online at news.lps.org/advocate.

Thanks for your support.