Peace Councils At Orr, Clemente, And Bowen Mikva has launched [link=http://mikvachallenge.org/]leadership and peace councils[/link] at three Chicago Public School high schools. 25 students at each of these schools attend 9-hours-a-week after school workshops run by Mikva staff. "In addition to getting intensive leadership training, these students are analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of their schools and communities and providing their principals with recommendations for school improvement. Students will also lead a civic action project to improve their schools over the next semester." So is the Mikva Challenge as good as it gets on student activism and involvement, or are there other hidden gems out there doing great leadership and youth democracy out there?
Digg
Del.icio.us
Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 7:04 PM
Peace Councils At Orr, Clemente, And Bowen
Mikva rocks, and here are a couple of other strong youth leadership development programs that have had impact within CPS:
Umoja Student Development Corporation, which started at Manley and now works with Gage Park, ACE Tech and Revere Elementary. Here's their web site.
Southwest Youth Collaborative has led campaigns around reducing zero tolerance and was the group that introduced CPS to AVID.
Umoja Student Development Corporation, which started at Manley and now works with Gage Park, ACE Tech and Revere Elementary. Here's their web site.
Southwest Youth Collaborative has led campaigns around reducing zero tolerance and was the group that introduced CPS to AVID.
Mon Nov 26, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Peace Councils At Orr, Clemente, And Bowen
MIKVA is a class act. Has been since I first stumbled into working with them more than 5 (or is it 6) years ago. Brian Brady (MIKVA director) runs an organization that gives students a voice and...ah heck...I could sing his praises and those of both Abner and Zoe Mikva for weeks on end.
I have never worked with any other group as professional and as successful as MIKVA and they are a model of how it should be done.
This year I am taking 5 students from Gage Park to New Hampshire where they will be placed with a Presidential campaign and work during the nation's first primary.
How cool is that?
MIKVA has consistently given my students opportunities that they could not have had anywhere else.
They are a social studies teacher's dream come true.
I have never worked with any other group as professional and as successful as MIKVA and they are a model of how it should be done.
This year I am taking 5 students from Gage Park to New Hampshire where they will be placed with a Presidential campaign and work during the nation's first primary.
How cool is that?
MIKVA has consistently given my students opportunities that they could not have had anywhere else.
They are a social studies teacher's dream come true.
Mon Dec 3, 2007 at 10:56 PM
Peace Councils At Orr, Clemente, And Bowen
I serve on the Mikva board because I love being around such spirited and proactive folks. The Mikva staff are high class and nurture incredibly talented young people. I can't wait to see the next mayor come out of the ranks of Mikva Challenge.
Wed Dec 5, 2007 at 6:11 PM
Peace Councils At Orr, Clemente, And Bowen
Thanks Alexander for the shout out. Youth organizing is at an all time high in Chicago right now with a ton of great organizations doing good work. In addition to SWYC and Umoja that Maureen mentions, I like a KOCO, Albany Park Neighborhood Council, Females United for Action, Young Women's Action Team, Brighton Park Council, the Freedom School, Logan Square NC, etc...you get my drift. A number of these groups are working on the dropout issue and it will be interesting to see what policy changes they can make happen. Time for a big youth movement in Chicago! We just need to find more time to work together on stuff.
