Local activist Zyahna Bryant has spent more than a decade fighting for monumental causes, beginning in 2012, when, at age 12, she organized a rally for Trayvon Martin. In 2016, she wrote a letter to Charlottesville City Council calling for the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue from a downtown park that was then named for the Confederate general. Now, she wants to continue working for social justice and accessibility as a member of the Charlottesville School Board. She joins three other candidates vying for three seats in November on the seven-member school board.
Her campaign focuses on amplifying student voices, enhancing support for Charlottesville City School staff, and facilitating equitable access for all students, according to a press release.
Born and raised in Charlottesville, Bryant’s commitment to social justice grew while a student at Charlottesville High School and the University of Virginia. By the time a towering crane hoisted the Robert E. Lee monument off its platform in 2021, she had become a widely known young organizer.
Inspired by disruptions to education during COVID-19, Bryant created the Support for Black First-Gen College Students initiative, which helps students transition from high school to college. As of last year, the fund had raised more than $34,000.
“I believe in pouring back into the people, places, and things that we value the most. As a proud alumna of Charlottesville City Schools, I understand it to be necessary to empower the voices and visions of those who are from this community,” Bryant said in her campaign announcement.
Bryant did not respond to a request for more information on her platform at press time.
School board members serve four-year terms that begin the January following elections. Responsibilities include approving the school division’s budget, setting policy, and hiring the superintendent.
Incumbents Emily Dooley and Lisa Torres said in January that they are running for reelection, and Dashad Cooper, who ran for both Charlottesville City Council and the Charlottesville School Board in 2023, also entered the race. Incumbent Dom Morse, whose seat is up for election too, has not yet indicated his plans.
Bryant’s team will officially launch her campaign during a March 1 event at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. All are invited to attend starting at 4:30pm.
If elected to the school board, Zyahna Bryant will be the youngest non-student representative member. Photo by Eze Amos.
