Fall 2008
Providence
Immigration Rights
The Met School
When voting on which issue to choose, one GCP student at the Met class described the experience of her mother, who had been recently deported. The students decided to take action on the rights of immigrants, researching Rhode Island laws and policies and interviewing leaders in the immigrant community. Upon learning that the Rhode Island Illegal Immigration Control Order passed in the spring of 2008 had led to the violation of many immigrants rights, students at the Met decided to take a stand by writing an op-ed in the Providence Journal.
Public Transportation Access
Central High School
Most students in a U.S. history class at Central High School took public transportation to school every day, using the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA). However, recent budget problems meant that RIPTA was cutting important bus routes, mainly those that impacted lower-income areas. The students decided to take action, learning about the reasons for the budget cuts, meaning with RIPTA representatives and state legislators, and ultimately, getting over 500 signatures on a petition urging the state to put more money into RIPTA.
Teen Smoking
Times Squared Academy
Teens at Times Squared Acadent were concerned to see their friends and family picking up a deadly habit, and decided to tackle teen smoking. In researching the problem, students took a field trip to the Rhode Island Tobacco Control Resource Center. They were surprised to learn that even though there are laws against selling tobacco to minors, these laws are often not enforced and many people don’t even know about them. To prevent teens from smoking, the students decided to visit convenience stores near their school to interview and inform store owners about these laws and their experiences with minors attempting to buy tobacco illegally. The students also made a documentary about their project.