Submitted by sandra on Tue, 2005-10-25 18:20.
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Democracy in Action is a six-week internship program for youth seeking leadership training and experience in shaping their community. Through guided learning, peer-to-peer dialogue, problem-solving activities and interactive projects, students engage in the process of being active and responsible citizens in today’s diverse society.
Students develop valuable skills in critical thinking, research, participation, and collaboration by working together with teenagers from different high schools and two master teachers to learn how diverse people have historically shaped democracy; tackle contemporary real-life issues in the community; and produce a meaningful hands-on community project.
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| Learning democracy skills |
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Participating students receive hands-on experience for college and job applications; fulfill community service and/or service learning requirement for high school graduation; meet other youth from diverse backgrounds who share similar interests and concerns; and contribute to their community and society at large, while developing leadership qualities including teamwork, analysis, communication, and other real-life skills. Most importantly, they are given the rare chance to make a difference.
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| The students from the second Democracy in Action program, who called themselves Student Advocates for the Mentally Disabled (SAMD), organized as their civic action an awareness concert held August 18, 2005, on the Plaza adjacent to the National Center. “Rock ‘n’ Rights: Rockin’ for the Mentally Disabled” generated awareness for that neglected and marginalized population. It was held in partnership with Lamp Community, a non-profit organization providing housing, health recovery and job training to homeless men and women with serious mental illness. Donations of personal hygiene items, canned foods, phone cards, clothes, shoes, bedding, books, etc. were collected at the concert in support of Lamp Community. |
| Rock ‘n’ Rights: Rockin’ for the Mentally Disabled |
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The seven students were from Mark Keppel, Crenshaw, Palos Verdes, Manual Arts, and Cabrillo High Schools. After much research, the students collectively decided to build their civic action project around issues that affect the developmentally challenged.
The concert’s line up included East L.A. favorites Ollin, with their world punk sound, and Old Souls, a rock ‘n’ roll band made up of elementary-age students. Also performing were Tangklang Dance Crew, an experimental break dance troupe. |
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| Ollin rocks for mental rights |
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