Let me introduce you to Isiah Martin, a junior at Camden High School. He and Lyn Ampey of Southwest High School are two 2025 Student Board Representatives serving on the Minneapolis Public Schools’ Board of Education (MPS). They were selected for their roles by fellow students on the MPS’ CityWide Student Leadership Board following an application and interview process. CityWide is a youth leadership group with representations of all MPS high schools which seeks to empower students, amplify voices, and advocate for positive change for all Minneapolis Public School students. The MPS Board has appointed a student representative since 2015, and beginning in 2022, the addition of a second student representative was made with the goal of expanding student views and opinions. Martin had heard about this opportunity from CityWide as a sophomore. He says, “I wanted to take the bull by its horns and applied,” wanting to advocate for his peers and the Northside.
A life-long resident of the Northside, Isiah attended Sojourner Truth Academy prior to enrolling at Camden High. As the middle child of his immediate family with three older siblings, Isiah cheers on his younger brother in his basketball endeavors.
Isiah Martin is a student leader at Camden High School as part of the Camden Beacons Leadership Team (founded by YWCA and YMCA Minneapolis and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities and MPS Community Education), Good Trouble (a youth-led organization which believes students themselves have the answers to helping shape policies that support learning), the Black Student Union, Black Men Teach and Camden High Student Council. As a Teen Specialist on the “Teen Tech Squad” at Webber Library, Martin helps youth engage in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) learning activities. He has been involved in the “Change the Name” transition of renaming Patrick Henry High School to Camden High School. To be actively involved in so many endeavors Isiah balances his life by using what he refers to as a “code switch” which he turns on and off according to what he is doing.
I asked Isiah, “Who has influenced you in becoming so active in these service groups?” He credits being a part of Good Trouble which has encouraged him to use his voice. When one of his older brothers passed away, a teacher and a wrestling coach at Camden High by the name of Mr. Tyler Battles, shared his similar life experience. This understanding and mentorship furthered Isiah’s drive to use his voice. He has used his voice to advocate for youth while giving testimony to groups and individuals in his school, in the community and at the State Capitol.
MPS stated in an article on November 7, 2024, “Martin demonstrates a commitment to not only being informed about the fuller MPS student experience, but also advocating for those marginalized voices at a higher level. His peers describe him as a fantastic listener, a thoughtful critical thinker, and strong advocate for authentic youth voice and perspective on topics and issues facing our young people today.”
Martin first attended a MPS Board meeting when he presented on behalf of CityWide. As a current MPS member he has observed their work as a process wherein he feels people could be listening more. He has been surprised as to how much pressure there is, and that there are so many people and media who show up during budget time showing concern and interest.
As to his future, Martin says that one of the first goals on his agenda is to start a fashion brand. One of his personal goals is to define professionalism with dress codes. At this time, he is leaning towards becoming a real estate agent or a chiropractor.
Martin’s advice to youth who wish to help others is, “In order to service, the best thing to do is to listen with an open ear, trying to understand others and help them understand you.” His expectation of accomplishment of being a MPS Student Representative is to “make our schools better and to hear what we students want so that what we went through can’t happen again for later generations.”