About Thriving in Public Schools

Thriving in Public Schools, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Racine, Wisconsin, created to carry forward the legacy of educator and author Al Levie and his groundbreaking work in student and teacher organizing.

The foundation grew out of Levie’s book, Thriving in a Public School, a #1 Amazon New Release in Education Organizations and Institutions, which chronicles how a group of students and educators at Racine’s Horlick High School turned classrooms into centers of community action. Over two decades, they built real power: forming Youth Empowered in the Struggle (Y.E.S.), standing up for immigrant rights, racial justice, and equity in education, and proving that collective organizing can transform lives, schools, and entire communities.

Thriving in Public Schools, Inc. continues that mission today through educator workshops, student leadership programs, and partnerships with universities and community organizations. Its work trains teachers to bring organizing principles into their classrooms, helping students see themselves as capable of changing the conditions of their lives, not just studying them. Each program blends the humanities, history, and hands-on activism to make learning relevant, courageous, and connected to real-world challenges.

The foundation also produces the feature documentary Thriving in Public Schools, filmed and directed by Emmy Award winning cinematographer Rommel Genciana. The film brings Al Levie’s story, and the story of his students to life, the charged history of Racine following the growth of Y.E.S. and the lasting influence of youth-led movements born in public schools. The documentary captures how organizing inside a classroom can ripple outward, reshaping the civic and cultural landscape of an entire community.

Founder Al Levie spent more than twenty years teaching Social Studies, African American, Latin American, and World History at Horlick High School in Racine. A lifelong activist, union leader, and advocate for social justice, he was instrumental in uniting students and educators around causes larger than themselves. His leadership has earned him the NAACP Education Advocate Award, the Hispanic Unsung Hero Award from the King Center, and multiple honors from Voces de la Frontera, one of the nation’s most effective immigrant rights organizations.

At its core, Thriving in Public Schools is about organizing for change, giving educators and students the skills, structure, and confidence to take action where they are. Whether through classrooms, workshops, or storytelling, the foundation empowers communities to build the future they want to see.