Now, as a staff attorney at the ACLU of Northern California, she is the one who students in the Central Valley of California can call for help. And Abre' exemplifies every aspect of fearless lawyering when she answers the call.
For example, some of the school districts in the Central Valley have no idea how to support English learner students and their parents, even failing to provide board meeting materials in other languages where the need is known. Abre' represents parents in these school districts to ensure that all students’ language needs are met, especially in this time of virtual learning. She also represented students who were members of the yearbook staff in one Central Valley school district to ensure that they were able to keep Black Lives Matter content in their yearbook when the school would have otherwise removed it. Similarly, she represented elementary school students who had painted art work that included Black Lives Matter content. The teacher had thrown away the young students’ artwork and told them that they had to redo their assignments. Thanks to Abre' and a well-crafted letter, the school district admitted fault, released the teacher, and updated pertinent policies. Recently, in another Central Valley district where Black students represent less than 2 percent of that school district’s population, but almost every single one of those students had been suspended or expelled at some point, Abre' filed a federal administrative class complaint alleging racial harassment and disparate discipline.
One of Abre’s first advocacy projects in California concerned a dress code issue. The school’s dress code banned long hair, earrings, and dresses for male students; “exotic clothing and makeup”; and hairstyles that “cause undue attention.” A Black student was trying to get a cultural exemption for his hair: an afro. The school told the boy, “Black students couldn’t have culture.”
Abre' represented this individual student, but she also coordinated conversations between the school and a community-wide coalition that ultimately led to the end of the dress code. Not only did this fearless advocacy ensure that no other Black students would be forced to cut their afros in the school district, but Abre' saw the profound impact and importance this change made for trans students in the school district as well.
Abre' understands the importance of not only representing and advocating for students and their rights, but also that she is an example and can provide a pathway for those students. It was a summer program for undergraduates at Florida State Law School that helped her break down the process of becoming a lawyer and understand how she could begin to be the change that she wanted to see, to change laws and advocate for equity. As a result, she went back to her own college and started a mentoring program that provided undergraduate students, many of whom had no idea that law school was an option, with access to lawyers, judges, and law students who could talk to them about their possibilities.
And when Abre' represents or advocates for students—often students of color, LGBTQ+ students, or students who are not English language proficient; students who do not feel like the school system has created a space for them—the students themselves are surprised. They are ecstatic to see a Black woman lawyer who is representing them. Abre' knows that it is essential for her to not only take the time to ensure her work is client-centered and that her clients understand every stage of their case or advocacy plan, but also for her to answer their questions about their own path and to provide them guidance on how to become their own advocates. She provides her clients with media training, discusses how to talk to school board members, explains how laws are drafted, and talks about the importance and how-tos of a good letter to the right audience. She has had more than one student say, “I didn’t really think law school was something I could do, but seeing you do this, I’m interested in law school and being an advocate.”
Abre’ has said, “I tend to always set aside time for the students I represent to answer questions about college and their career paths, and I try to help them with their questions about college or internships or career options.”
Abre' understands and optimizes being a fearless lawyer for children and she put it best when she said,
People assume doing children’s rights law is somehow easier because they’re young people, but it’s a lot more challenging. You need to be able to explain to them what’s happening and be able to communicate with them. You’re not sending emails to 7th and 8th graders, but you might be using Instagram—you have to stay up to date. You have to understand how to reach young people where they are at. . . . Foster youth, trans youth, homeless youth, they all experience trauma. You have to meet them where they are mentally ready.
Abre' does this hard, yet rewarding, work every day. We cannot thank her enough. And we should all be asking the question: “How do we make sure there is equity in the education system?” And then do something about it, like Abre' does.