Spring 2009
Providence
College Readiness
Alvarez High School
After realizing that many of their classmates were unprepared to tackle the college application process, students at Alvarez decided to focus on college readiness for their action plan. Researching and meeting with college counselors, students became experts on the college application process, learning about everything from studying for the SATs to collecting teacher recommendations to filling out applications. For their action plan, students wrote a brochure on college access and led a school-wide assembly on college readiness. A former student spoke at the assembly about the importance of going to college.
Drunk Driving
Blackstone Academy
Realizing the importance of the issue amongst young drivers, students at Blackstone Academy decided to learn and take action on the issue of drunk driving. They learned the harmful effects of drunk driving and legal precautions that have been taken in recent years in an attempt to diminish its occurrence. The students then worked on a bill introduced at the Rhode Island State House that dealt with putting harsher penalties against drunk drivers. They met with their local legislator, as well as the Senate Majority Leader, in an attempt to move the bill forward.
Gang Violence
Central High School/Hope High School
In February 2009, a series of gang shootings shook the Providence community and affected students at Hope High and Central, many of whom lost friends to the violence. The incident sparked a dialogue amongst students about the prevalence of gangs and gang violence in the community, and both Hope High and Central decided to focus on gangs for their action plan.
Students at Hope began by researching past interventions used to prevent gang violence in Providence, meeting with Sergeant Wheeler, the head of the Providence Police Gang Unit, as well as representatives from theInstitute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence. Ultimately, students decided that the best way to take action was to work with younger students to share what they wish they had known when they were in late elementary and early middle school. Hope students partnered with Carl. G. Lauro Elementary School, teaching gang violence prevention workshops to over 100 fifth and sixth graders.
Students at Central decided to focus on raising awareness of gang violence in the community by creating a documentary film. Partnering with the ProvidenceStreetworkers Program, Central students interviewed former gang members and families affected by gang violence, as well as local residents about the ways that gangs have affected the community. Students edited the footage into a 12 minute video to be shown throughout the community.
The DREAM Act
Times Squared Academy
Currently in Rhode Island, non-resident immigrants must pay out of state tuition for attending in state colleges. A national bill is attempting to change this reality, and students at Times Squared helped to work on its local companion. Because students in the class were immigrants who would be forced to pay exorbitant tuition prices in order to attend college, they chose to work on this pressing local issue. They met with the local sponsor, attended a fundraiser for the promotion of the bill, and lobbied other legislators.
After School Activities
Alvarez High School
While Providence has an extensive slate of after school activities for middle school students, it is lacking in a program for high school students. Recognizing the importance of an after school program in order to keep kids off the streets and engaged in productive activities, students at Alvarez High School began a campaign to promote a formalized afterschool program for high school students. They met with representatives of the city, and ultimately, sent more than 30 personalized letters to the office of the Mayor.
Teen Jobs
Central High School
Students at Central High School had been hit negatively by the economic crisis, unable to get jobs to support their family and help with their future. They researched the issue of teen jobs, and recognized that $1.2 billion had been allocated in the stimulus package to creating more teen opportunities. Rhode Island launched its own program, and the students talked to officials from the Department of Labor and Training about its implementation. The students recognized that much was lacking from the bill, and pressured public officials to allocate more money to the program.