Summer of Service and Leadership Jessica Chethik Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago 2009 Project Citizen Coordinator Conference October 9-12, 2009

Summer of Service and Leadership Program 15 Chicago Public high schools in 2009 Freshman Connection Summer Program Implementing Project Citizen Taking part in direct service experiences set up by Chicago Cares and MGR Foundation Reading and discussing Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman

Objectives 1.Introduce/acclimate students to their new high school 2.Develop a cadre of student leaders for their high school 3.Build civic knowledge and skills by engaging students in service and policy analysis throughout the summer 4.Expose students to high school and college education

Timeline Spring 2009: Chicago Public Schools recruited 15 teachers to participate CRFC created the Summer of Service and Leadership Curriculum May 9, 2009: Project Citizen training for teachers and college mentors June 22 – July 23, 2009: Summer of Service Program Week 1: team building, direct service, community walks, bringing in speakers from the community, read and discuss Seedfolks Week 2: continue direct service and identify problem, Seedfolks Week 3: look at a variety of solutions to problem, Seedfolks Weeks 4 & 5: select class policy and create and carry out action plan, Seedfolks July 21, 2009: Culminating event with all participating schools

Curriculum Scope and Sequence - Weekly Course Outline Daily sample activity outline including correlations to Project Citizen text and other PC lessons Teambuilding, community mapping and leadership activities Discussion and journaling activities to be used with Seedfolks Reflection Section for students and teachers

Direct Service Opportunities Senior Centers/ Nursing Homes Ronald McDonald House Share Your Soles Organization Forest Preserve of Cook County Lincoln Park Community Shelter Family Rescue Organic Greenhouse Hines VA Hospital

Preparing a Meal at the Greater Chicago Food Depository

Getting Dirty at Various Community Gardens

Chicago Park District Fixing Up the Parks

Implementing Project Citizen Problems Identified Include: High Drop-Out Rates Peer Pressure Local Hunger Civil War and Genocide in Sudan Affordable Housing Beach Pollution Teen Pregnancy Neighborhood Resource Inequality

PROS of Using Project Citizen as part of Summer of Service Program Tapping into an existing program makes it easy to recruit teachers and students The direct service component helped to inspire important community projects Teachers don’t have to carve out time to fit the project in their curriculum/ PC is the curriculum Meaningful way for freshman to learn about the community where their new school is located and to connect with other incoming students

CONS of Using Project Citizen as part of Summer of Service Program Process to adapt curriculum is time consuming Motivation and knowledge of teachers not always optimal Need to know that money for the program is available Once summer ends the program may not carry over into the new school year As with using Project Citizen in any capacity, some teachers get the public policy component, some don’t

July 21, 2009 Culminating Event

Scavenger Hunt

Project Presentations