Afira Arrastia-DeVries is the President and CEO of the Monarch School Project, the only K–12 public institution in the U.S. solely dedicated to educating unhoused students. A 2025 Prebys Leadership Awardee, Afira brings a powerful combination of heart, strategy, and passion to her work. As a sociologist, advocate, and leader, she’s reshaping education around support, community, and the radical act of seeing children not for their struggles, but for their gifts.

This Episode:
What happens when you stop trying to “fix” kids and start believing in them?

In this meaningful conversation, Afira shares how Monarch School is redefining what education can look like for unhoused students. Through a strengths-based approach, the school offers not just academics but community, care, and dignity for students and their families. We explore the profound impact of trauma-informed teaching, why children thrive when given space to define themselves, and how systems must change to meet the moment.

Afira and Grant also go deep on leadership, advocacy, and why silence is no longer an option in the face of policies that harm the most vulnerable. This is a conversation about courage, truth-telling, and the belief that every child is worthy of joy, safety, and possibility.

Key Moments:
[5:45] How Afira’s childhood shaped her leadership
[16:29] Why a separate school for unhoused youth isn’t segregation, but safety
[24:14] What a strengths-based approach looks like in practice
[39:01] Why Afira believes advocacy is the job and what fuels her to speak out
[47:00] How students are affected by fear and family separation policies

Resources Mentioned in This Episode: 

• Monarch School – A unique public-private partnership in San Diego serving unhoused students 
• Opinion: Unhoused youth deserve help and compassion, not cruelty - Afira’s op-ed in the San Diego Union-Tribune 
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act – Federal legislation affecting educational access for homeless youth 
• Prebys Leadership Awards – Honoring bold and visionary local leaders 

Take Action: 

• Honor Kids' Strengths – Ask a child what they’re proud of. Let them lead. 
• Learn About Strength-Based Care – Shift from “What’s wrong?” to “What’s strong?” 
• Support Monarch School – Donate, volunteer, or share their work with others. 
• Speak Up – Challenge policies rooted in blame and scarcity. Lead with love. 
• Be That One Adult – Stability starts with someone showing up. You can be that person. 

Credits:

This is a production of the Prebys Foundation
Hosted by Grant Oliphant
Co-Hosted by Crystal Page
Co-produced by Crystal Page and Adam Greenfield
Engineered by Adam Greenfield
Production Coordination by Tess Karesky
Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina

The Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego’s own Mr. Lyrical Groove.
Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPod​cast​.org

Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team

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