Youth Court Alliance is a student run after school program at William Penn High School, Hannah Penn K-8, and Ferguson K-8 in York City School District. The goal of the Youth Court Alliance is to reengage truant students by empowering them to be leaders through community service.
Students in Youth Court were asked the question, “What needs/issues do you see in your community?” The students gave the following responses:
- homelessness
- poverty
- stray animals
- seniors that are in of need help
- age division
- littering and property destruction
- financial education
- career education
- drug/alcohol abuse
- single parents
- babysitting
- hunger
The second question they were asked was, “What needs/issues do see in your school?” The students gave the following responses:
- bullying
- helping students make friends
- drug/alcohol abuse
- budget
- behavior issues
- lack of communication
- low work ethic
- perception
- early onset of adult responsibilities
The students were told to come up with a volunteer project that could address the needs and issues they discussed. After much debate, the students decided to complete a volunteer project making fleece blankets. The blankets would be made with senior citizens at a senior center or senior home. The volunteers would teach the seniors how to make the blankets and would socialize with them for a few hours. When the blankets are finished, the students would like to help distribute them to the organizations that assist the homeless, elderly, babies (new mothers), and stray animals. The students felt that this project had the largest reach with addressing as many of the needs that they listed (homelessness, stray animals, age division, poverty, helping students make friends, and perception).
Social Action Project Overview: The goal of the social action project is to have students work cooperatively with other classmates to identify a need, create a volunteer project, and record their impact through photo documentation. Through social action, students will acquire important abilities, increase their understanding of photography and arts, enhance their sense of personal and collective efficacy, and contribute to the betterment of society. The students involved with the social action project will be required to attend a photo workshop that will be taught by a local professional. The students will be given digital cameras and taught how to use the cameras and how to capture images. The students will then take photos that represent community needs and concerns, what is important to them, and record the ways they are improving the community they live in. The students will creatively display their photos and stories. Students will be given weekly opportunities to work on their projects after school. Assistance will be available for students using new technology for their projects. In the late spring, students will present their photo projects. There will be a strong communications push to help demonstrate that York City youth do care about their neighborhood and want to help build a strong community.
