Esther Crotser, Livian Roth-Amodt - Education for Solidarity and Resilience

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with Esther Crotser and Livian Roth-Amodt about their experiences and activism following their education at Youth Initiative High School.

In this episode of the podcast we dip our toes into the turbulent waters of current events in a conversation with Esther Crotser and Livian Roth-Amodt, two former students of mine and recent graduates of the Youth Initiative High School, our partner Waldorf-inspired high school here in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Since graduating in 2024 from YIHS, where students play a major role in governing, funding, and promoting the school, Esther and Livian have been living in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St Paul. For the past year they have been involved with a variety of political and social causes, including work with the Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Since the start of 2026, Esther and Livian and the groups they are working with found themselves on the main stage of contemporary history as the eyes of the country and the world turned to Minneapolis as a result of the ICE enforcement surge and subsequent violence and unrest in that city. In our conversation, we talk about the work they have been doing and how their education at Youth Initiative prepared them to be able to respond constructively and resiliently and to take on leadership roles in this complex environment…

People in this episode

Guests: Esther Crotser, Livian Roth-Amodt

Topics covered

• education
• social justice
• youth leadership
• community engagement
• political activism
• solidarity
• resilience

Keywords

• Youth Initiative High School
• Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee
• solidarity
• resilience
• community singing
• political activism
• youth leadership

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Youth Initiative High School, Minnesota Immigrants Rights Action Committee

Places: Minneapolis, St Paul, Viroqua, Wisconsin

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