As students are getting into the swing of things this fall, high-schooler Solyana Mesfin has a very unusual role. She's sitting on Kentucky's board of education and works to bridge conversations between the state's 600,000 public school students and policymakers. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on the importance of student representation.

Albert Bender is a writer, activist and attorney of Cherokee descent. Currently based in Tennessee, he has long been an advocate for Native American cultural preservation and justice. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on Indigenous cultures and struggles.

Vera Hall is a quilter and seamstress based in Baltimore and for decades has crafted a wide array of items. Recently, she decided to combine her artistry with her desire to learn more about her ancestry by creating powerful quilts depicting Black history. Hall shares her Brief But Spectacular take on piecing the past to the future.

Noname is a rapper and founder of the Noname Book Club, which encourages readers to support local bookstores and books by authors of color. The club now has 14 chapters across the United States. Here's her Brief But Spectacular take on community learning and solidarity.