Untitled timeline

Education Partner: Cesar Chavez Public Charter: Chavez Prep
Civic Partner: Scott Kratz, Vice President for Education at the National Building Museum
Public art as a tool for public engagement: construction of 11th street bridge
Project Overview: Fellow Jennifer Sonkin of Cesar Chavez Prep is working with her senior art class on a project that uses public art as a tool to stimulate conversation around a critical community issue: the redevelopment of the 11th street bridge, which connects DC’s Capitol Hill and historic Anacostia neighborhoods, located in the school community. Students notice the divide in their neighborhood and want to examine the causes and how it can be “bridged” – literally and figuratively. The client is Scott Kratz, the Vice President for Education at the National Building Museum, currently the visionary for the construction of the 11th Street bridge project. The students have decided to explore the rich history of both communities and how they can be stitched together. Students will speak to individuals in both communities having them use Google tablets to contribute to artwork that students will make to reflect their memories, wants and needs for a strong community.

Detroit, MI
Education Partner: Wayne State Volunteers, Administrators, and Coaches Program
Civic Partner: Detroit Housing Commission
Using STEM Technology to develop action plans for a healthy Detroit.
Project Overview – Fellows Ron Simpkins and Torrey Henry at Wayne State Volunteers, Administrators and Coaches have created a plan to develop a STEM-oriented after-school program in the 21st Century Learning Centers for middle school students in the 2013 -2014 school year. The project’s client is the Housing Authority who will consider public health and green building strategies in the context of Hope VI public housing. With support from college students and civic and community leaders, youth will develop plans to address issues that impede a healthy Detroit and use technology to formalize and communicate plans with the broader community.

Other Details:
• VAC & 21st Century Schools: Using STEM technology to work on community and school improvements
• 2 sessions: Sep 23-Jan & Jan-May
• 5 middle schools across the city
• Current Client: Schools

Education Partner: Academy of Language & Technology
Civic Partner: LISC New York
Food Access: Assessing healthy eating options in the Bronx for immigrant communities
Project Overview: Fellow Michael Seltzer is working with 10th and 11th grade students in an after-school elective course to assess healthy eating options for immigrant communities in the Bronx. This is a relevant issue as over 90% of students are first or second generation Dominican. Michael is working with civic partners at LISC New York to create a project question and community stakeholder committee to consider student’s findings in January.

Y-PLAN "mini"

Richmond, CA
Education Partner: Richmond High School Health Academy
Civic Partner: Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay, Bay Area Planning consultants at Nelson Nygaard and WRT
Assessing accessibility and transportation to Richmond’s south shoreline area.
Project Overview: Fellow Jose Irizarry III of Richmond High School’s Health Academy will work with his 10th grade world history class to assess barriers and challenges to access and connectivity from various area BART stations and surrounding neighborhoods to the south shoreline area, including the future ferry terminal and the planned Richmond Bay Campus. The client for this project is Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay, and Nelson Nygaard Consultants. The two focus areas within the south shoreline area will serve to identify connectivity challenges within the South Shoreline that can inform the development of the Richmond Southside specific plan. This Y-PLAN project presents an opportunity to authentically engage in each phase of a long-term planning process. Semester 1, students will administer a community survey, conduct background analysis and provide recommendations for the client. Semester 2, students will incorporate feedback from the client, research recommendations, and prioritize solutions.

Y-PLAN Full
Education Partner: Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School
Civic Partner: Urban Strategies & Partnership for Youth Development
Examining the theme of “hunger” through Richard Wright’s Black Boy & New Orleans
Fellows Sophie Teitelbaum and Dawn Goodwin are working with four classes of 9th grade literature students on a Y-PLAN project in conjunction with a literary unit on Richard Wright’s Black Boy. They plan to use the theme of “hunger,” prominent throughout Black Boy, as an entry-point to engage students in a critical analysis of their own community: what are people hungry for (literally and figuratively) in New Orleans? They are currently in the planning phase, working with Eric Jensen of Partnership for Youth Development and Urban Strategies to define the project question. Current drafts include: How do we help young families and adolescents break the cycle of systemic poverty? How do we expose people to what poverty is and the impact poverty has on the community? How do we change mindsets and generational trends? Why is poverty so prevalent in New Orleans?

Y-PLAN Mini

Client: DCPNI
*Client comes in prior to winter break to introduce possible topics
*Students write argumentative essay about the issue they want to address over break.
*Project begins 2nd semester

Education Partner: Academy of Information Technology at Grover Cleveland High School
Civic Partner: Mayor’s Office of Disabilities & Center for Hearing & Communication
Leveraging technology to create more equitable and accessible communities for people with disabilities
Project Overview: Fellow Andrew Woodbridge and students in his computer programming class will work to create an app to assist people with disabilities navigate the built environment and access urban amenities. This project will be conducted in partnership with the Center for Hearing & Communication, and the Mayor’s Office of Disabilities as a potential client.