Social Justice Workshop Series

James Baldwin High School

New York, NY

March 13th – May 2nd, 2024

Team leads: Gianna Campa; Al Young

Support team: Maya Holloman; Christiana Quinones

JA interns: Suekanya Meaks; Joshua Rejouis

The Justice Ambassadors High School Workshop Series is a 12 week seminar that seeks to empower and raise awareness among high school students, particularly those who are directly impacted by school suspensions/expulsions, truancy students or students facing out-of-school challenges like poverty, community gun violence, foster care involvement and legal system contact.

It does so by providing educational workshops on personal growth, community development and social change. The course will meet twice a week for 45- to 60 minutes per workshop session. Each justice-centered module is rooted in a Columbia University, trauma-informed (human development) approach to teaching life skills and building social, cultural and political awareness. Our educational seminar is particularly designed for students who are facing in and out of school challenges and youth who are environmentally vulnerable. It is intended to encourage participants to become active “Change Agents” within both their own lives as well as within their communities. The curriculum aims to prompt community engagement, divert youth from criminal involvement, and rebuild ties between youth and their communities.

It is intended to encourage participants to become active “Change Agents” within both their own lives as well as within their communities.

Areas of improvement for the JBS micro-programming include encouraging students to speak up more, expanding on topics without making mental leaps, and improving time management – especially as it relates to the programming’s culminating project. Despite these challenges, the program shows strengths in students' genuine interest and engagement. Improvement areas also include finding appropriate times to interject and engage students who are less quick to raise their hands. Finally, without the added professional experience of government officials in regular JA programming, focusing on a policy proposal as a final project provided some challenges, especially regarding our ability as facilitators to advance and focus ideas. Overall, there is a need to engage some students more effectively, manage time better, and ensure topics are thoroughly covered without rushing.

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