The College of Information, Data and Society (IDS) is excited to announce the launch of Students: Amplifying Your Voices (SAYV), a student-led initiative designed to support and empower students from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds in library science, data science, and information science.

SAYV is a continuation of Your Voices: Learning, Listening, and Sharing and builds on the momentum of creating dedicated spaces for students often overlooked in these fields. SAYV aims to provide a platform where students can connect, collaborate, and grow through a series of initiatives that include:

• Community Learning Spaces: Informal, student-driven interactions through online platforms like Discord, where ideas and experiences are freely exchanged.
• Discord Server: A safe, inclusive environment fostering community-building among students from diverse backgrounds.
• Podcast Series: Titled “From the Fringes to the Foreground: Shining the Spotlight on Student Voices”, this series will feature conversations and interviews with students from the iSchool and Applied Data Science (ADS) programs, sharing their unique stories and highlighting their work within the community.

Michele A.L. Villagran, Associate Professor at the SJSU School of Information, expressed enthusiasm for this initiative: “SAYV is a pivotal step in ensuring that all students, particularly those from underrepresented communities, have a platform to not only share their voices but also engage in meaningful dialogue that supports their professional and personal growth. We’re proud to support SAYV as part of our broader mission to foster inclusivity and diversity within the library, information, and data science fields.”

SAYV’s mission is to create student-centered, supportive spaces where students from intersectional and diverse identities can develop professional skills, build lasting connections, and access valuable resources. By empowering students to lead these efforts, SAYV ensures that the needs and voices of underrepresented communities are amplified and respected.

Students from SJSU’s Department of Applied Data Science and the School of Information are encouraged to join the SAYV community and take advantage of its growth, learning, and connection opportunities. SAYV also welcomes collaborations with faculty, industry professionals, and community partners committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the information sciences.

For more information about SAYV or to get involved, contact us via email at yourvoices.sjsu@gmail.com.