Do you want to make a difference for and with others in our community? Do struggle to find the time to do so, or feel nervous about getting started or taking the next step? This Interim project is designed to (1) give students a way to engage with a community partner in a diverse local neighborhood, on projects identified as important (educational enrichment, health, literacy) by community partners, and (2) create a space for camaraderie, collaboration, and reflection with peers about what they're doing and how it relates to their aspirations as citizens and professionals. Our learning focus will be on understanding the on-the-ground dynamics of diverse, multilingual communities and developing transferable skills in problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. And the logistics of that? Students will spend 2.5 hours 4 days/week at a community partner site in the Arcadia Elementary School district in teams with a particular focus of work. Team composition and site assignment will be shaped by each student's interest. One day a week, all participants will gather over a meal to talk seminar-style about opportunity-creation, social inclusion, and becoming part of community.
- Teacher: Laura Barbas Rhoden