The only student on Tucson Unified School District’s bond oversight committee is working to ensure that student voices are included in decisions about how the district spends millions in funding.

Owen Brosanders got his first taste of advocacy in middle school when he pushed for a recycling bin to be added to his lunchroom.

“From a very young age, I have been inspired to make a change,” he told Tucson Spotlight.

A senior at University High School and a member of the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition, Brosanders said the fight against climate change is personal.

“It’s one that is universal to everyone, it’s going to affect everyone, but also it is also going to affect us uniquely in Tucson,” he said. “I feel like since I’ve lived here, every single year it is the hottest year on record. If I want to be able to live here in my future, then this is an issue that needs to be addressed now.”

In addition to serving as the only student on TUSD’s bond oversight committee, Brosanders has recently made big strides in his political journey. He was named Metropolitan Education Commission’s Youth of the Year in April, the same month he was selected to participate in the Junior Achievement of Arizona’s 18 Under 18 program. Over the summer, he worked as the community manager for congressional candidate Deja Foxx.

The bond oversight committee focuses on district infrastructure, including everything from school facilities to technology.

“As a student, I experience these things every day,” he said.

To best represent his peers, he stays in close contact with University’s student body president, student council and principal. He said more students should have the chance to participate in opportunities like this.

“Every student should have the ability to submit a complaint to the district or be able to have their voice heard by the people who make decisions about their lives,” he said. “In meetings for bond oversight, we will hear financial estimates, testimonials from principals, but we never hear testimonials from students. This is something we do need to hear because a school district is supposed to be educating kids. Sometimes it’s treated like a business, but that’s not how it should be.”

Brosanders said he hopes for greater student involvement at the school level and wants decision-makers to consider students’ perspectives.

He said being the youngest voice in the room has its highs and lows.

“Sometimes I feel like I am being brought up as a token, but other times I feel like I am overlooked," he said. “Being a youth in this space has uniquely equipped me to be able to listen to other people's stories and highlight them.”

He credits his work with the Metropolitan Education Commission, which hosts an annual Teen Town Hall that brings together students from across the region to share their experiences and concerns with decision-makers.

Even amid national challenges on climate action, he sees opportunities for local bodies like TUSD to make progress.

“A lot of climate action can be focused on adapting already built structures or revamping systems that already exist,” he said.

Brosanders said that even policies like tariffs can trickle down to impact how schools operate, adding that he hopes the future of education governance looks different.

“Involving students in every level of things is hard, but it is a super important thing that we need to be doing,” he said. “I am hoping in the future every school district will have a committee of students that get to make things happen. When youth are in positions of power, giving them a vote is important.”

While working for Foxx’s campaign, Brosanders said he witnessed the power of grassroots organizing.

“During most of our events, Deja, instead of talking the whole time, would hand the mic around to people and let them talk,” he said. “It’s something at a political event that you don’t usually see, especially from someone who is on the campaign trail and someone who is not in office yet.”

From campaigning for a middle school recycling bin to pushing for climate action and student voices in district decisions, Brosanders has always fought to ensure young people have a seat at the table.

McKenna Manzo is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at mckennamanzo@arizona.edu.

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