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YOUTH CONNECTION CHARTER SCHOOL RECOGNIZES THE EFFORTS OF ITS AFTER SCHOOL STUDENTS

Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) celebrated the conclusion of the first year of its Community Schools/After Schools program at a showcase event that was held at the South Shore Cultural Center on May 8th. Eight YCCS campuses worked on project-based collaborative endeavors that confronted a difficult social issue in their communities. One hundred and twenty students at the eight campuses worked on the following projects that were showcased at the Cultural Center. These included:

Community Christian Academy----Production of a newsletter for healthy living geared toward teenagers.

Community Youth Development Institute----Production of an infomercial for youth on what is money and how to manage it wisely to achieve economic goals.

Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School---- A research project on the effects of the Iraq War in the community.

Howard Area Alternative High School----A survey research project on peer pressure.

Olive Harvey Alternative High School----Production of an infomercial on Expungement and how community residents are affected by it.

Sullivan House Alternative High School----A research project on Violence and ways to combat it.

Westside Holistic Alternative High School----The role of churches in the revitalization of the Austin community through interviews and document research.

Youth Connection Community Academy----A study of gentrification in Bronzeville

All these projects involved students making decisions at every step from start to finish. “Our kids developed critical thinking skills as each project evolved”, said YCCS Executive Director Sheila Venson. “Also, their self-esteem as well as their sense of social justice increased as a result of the work they did.”

“Learning about peer pressure at school and my community is an important lesson,” observed Howard Area student June Bradley. “However dealing with peer pressure in other situations will be useful to me in all aspects of my life.”

Community Christian Academy student Cordarow Porter reflected how his project “gave him an awareness about the negative consequences of obesity in my community, and the need for us to develop local programs to combat it on a day to day basis.”

YCCS’ After School Coordinator Will Caref believes that “by doing community surveys, learning about film and video, honing Internet research skills and questioning community leaders, our kids become concerned about the problems and become engaged in the world around them.” Caref also reports that After School participants are showing improved attendance and better learning techniques during the regular school day. As Caref states “CPS should be commended for implementing the After School program and allowing schools to utilize creative methods to demonstrate collaborative learning.”

Story submitted by Will Caref, Community Schools Coordinator for the Youth Connection Charter School.

 

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