‘Small but mighty voice’: San Juan Unified students honor Ruby Bridges during annual walk

In the quiet morning hours of Nov. 14, dozens of students from Lichen K-8 gathered at various spots across their neighborhood, uniting to walk together in a show of solidarity against racism and bullying.

The annual event, Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, happens every November to honor the courageous first steps taken by Ruby Bridges as she integrated an all-white school, paving the way for future generations.

Schools throughout San Juan Unified School District joined the annual event, with students coming together to walk and reflect on Bridges’ legacy by making sure that all identities, perspectives and lived experiences are recognized, included and honored. 

“Ruby Bridges did something that most people don't think is possible. And she did it when she was six, and that was to build an inclusive environment where she stood up and used a small but mighty voice to change the course of history,” said Roxanne Stellmacher, Lichen principal. 

Students, teachers and parents weren’t the only ones participating in the event. Officials with the City of Citrus Heights and the Citrus Heights Police Department also joined in on the walk to underscore the importance of creating an inclusive environment for everyone. 

“It's important to engage with the community that you serve, and we also want to make sure we're building a fantastic relationship with our schools, our principals, our teachers and the families within the community, especially our youth,” said Citrus Heights City Manager Ash Feeney as the walk was underway. 

Second grader Amelia said the walk was important to both “honor Ruby Bridges,” but to also remember to “always be kind to others, and don’t ever be mean.” 

Destiny, a third-grade student at Lichen, shared a similar sentiment. Following the walk, she wants others to “show kindness, and not be mean.”

Stellmacher says the annual walk is an incredible opportunity for students to learn that they have a voice and are capable of making an impact. 

“It's a pretty inspirational story. As a 6-year-old, [Ruby Bridges] faced really, really significant challenges with the adults around her, and she still had to show up as a brave child,” Stellmacher said. “And we want our kids to learn about that journey, because the work that they are engaging with sometimes is scary, and sometimes isn't easy.”

At Lichen, the annual walk is only a small piece of something much larger. According to Stellmacher, Lichen uses an “inclusion calendar” to highlight marginalized communities through lesson plans and activities where students are invited to participate. 

“So Ruby Bridges [Walk to School Day] is an extension of something we already do, which is we make an attempt to bring the ideas around diversity, equity and inclusion into daily actions on campus,” Stellmacher said. 

To further incorporate Ruby Bridges’ story into the curriculum, many teachers read her story, “I am Ruby Bridges,” to their classes. Students then listened to a special morning announcement encouraging them to stand up against racism and bullying. Each student also took a pledge to promote inclusivity and kindness, and received a sticker to symbolize their commitment.

As students, staff and community members walked together, they honored not only a historic milestone but also the ongoing journey toward a kinder, more inclusive world.