As part of IPCE's commitment to strengthen the civic engagement capacity and leadership skills of high school youth, the instute offered a workshop this fall for Chicago Public School (CPS) students whose schools are participating in the Global Citizenship Initiative. Designed to align with their Fall semester civics class, the workshop "Understanding Policy and Social Movements" provided students with an opportunity to learn how they could make a difference through policy change and social movements.
This year, we invited several representatives from the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change as well as Pariticpatory Budgeting Project Chicago to participate in Civic Engagement Days to enhance participants' learning experiences. The African-American Cultural Center hosted a breakout session centered on their "community curated" exhibit,
This year, we invited several representatives from the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change as well as Pariticpatory Budgeting Project Chicago to participate in Civic Engagement Days to enhance participants' learning experiences. The African-American Cultural Center hosted a breakout session centered on their "community curated" exhibit,
Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden), students, along with their chaperons, participated by looking at links between cultural diversity and environmental sustainability. The Rafael Cintron Ortiz Latino Cultural Center hosted a session utilizing the El Despertar de las Americas (The Awakening of the Americas) mural for discussion that included topics and concerns about identity, stereotypes, immigration, gender roles, human rights, poverty, and education. Pariticpatory Budgeting Chicago (PB) hosted an overview of how PB works and a mock simulation with students. PB is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. Students were asked to share ideas and vote for how they would spend one million dollars to improve schools in Chicago.
Over 200 people representing Alcott College Prep, Washington, Richards, Chicago Virtual, Infinity, Bogan, Fenger, and Kelvyn Park high schools participated in our workshop. As a result, students were empowered to learn how to participate effectively in a democracy, how policymaking and social movements happen and the impact they have on shaping the future of their communities.
Students from Infinity, Bogan, Fenger, and Kelvyn Park voted to:
Over 200 people representing Alcott College Prep, Washington, Richards, Chicago Virtual, Infinity, Bogan, Fenger, and Kelvyn Park high schools participated in our workshop. As a result, students were empowered to learn how to participate effectively in a democracy, how policymaking and social movements happen and the impact they have on shaping the future of their communities.
Students from Infinity, Bogan, Fenger, and Kelvyn Park voted to:
-Improve all schools, walls, floors, water, and working lights.
-Remodel an old or abandoned school building and turn it into a recreation center to keep youth safe.
-Improve all roads and streetlights in their neighborhoods.
Students from Alcott, Washington, Richards and Chicago Virtual voted to:
-Refurbish an old CPS building for a new school.
-Create a super lounge.
-Construct a driving range.
Other great ideas included enhancing or building sports fields, gyms, additional bathrooms, library, technology labs, community murals, and purchasing desks that fit student needs and sizes.
-Remodel an old or abandoned school building and turn it into a recreation center to keep youth safe.
-Improve all roads and streetlights in their neighborhoods.
Students from Alcott, Washington, Richards and Chicago Virtual voted to:
-Refurbish an old CPS building for a new school.
-Create a super lounge.
-Construct a driving range.
Other great ideas included enhancing or building sports fields, gyms, additional bathrooms, library, technology labs, community murals, and purchasing desks that fit student needs and sizes.