Covered by Documenter:
Rick Bohan (see his notes here)
‘Soapbox Project’ in Akron Public Schools encourages problem solving
“Kids fake smiles every day,” Buchtel Community Learning Center eighth-grade student Camara Carter told the Akron Board of Education Monday.
Carter was one of three Akron Public Schools students who shared their “Soapbox Project” speeches with the board during its regular meeting.
Her speech centered on mental health issues among her classmates and how they can lead to suicide. Carter wrapped up her three-minute talk with solutions such as sensitivity training and simply checking in on loved ones.
Nearly 1,300 eighth graders across the district participated in this “Changemaker Challenge” program through their social studies classes.
Teachers tasked students with identifying a challenge important to them, researching the topic and developing a two- to three-minute presentation for classmates. They supported their ideas with data and facts and to provide solutions.
Students talk about genetically modified foods and gun violence
Me’kai Torjilar from Hyre CLC spoke about genetically modified foods.
“My call to action is for us to start taking more precautions when testing the modified foods to ensure the safety of everybody who eats them,” he said.
MeKenzie Keys, a student at I Promise School, focused on gun violence and asked the audience if anybody had lost someone to gun violence.
“All the pain it brings to lose someone to gun violence is heartbreaking,” she said. “I know how it feels to lose someone you love to gun violence.”
Keys said the impact on her life has been enormous. “It changes the way families celebrate. You always remember who is missing,” she said.
The next step for the students is to work in small groups to develop ideas around their topics to enact change. School officials will select one group from each school to participate in the Changemaker Challenge Summit.
“I love doing this soapbox project,” I Promise teacher Samantha Marincheck said. “To see students become so empowered and find their voices and be excited to come to class to write was amazing.”
See all three speeches here.
