Every year we try to commemorate, educate, and serve! We have some amazing friends at the Portland NAACP, Quirk Chevrolet, and the Maine Red Claws that have given us so much over the years and made so many opportunities available for our students.
2017 Our Home Puzzle
2016 I Am Video Project
2015 We believe in freedom Quilt
2012
Students were presented with an excerpt from MLK's "The Drum Major Instinct" Speech and were challenged to see Dr. King’s noblest dream, “to give his life serving others,” and to reflect a spirit of service in their future aspirations.
Using writing prompts inspired by the students, youth in each community created short presentations to share their interpretation of Dr. King’s relevance today – a question they ask every year. The three presentations were performed together for the community at Mayo Street Arts January 16th 2012. Following the show students, staff, community members, and volunteers were challenged to reflect on King’s “The Drum Major Instinct,” what he found to be most important in life, and how their actions have drawn them together in service and creative expression. The Kennedy Park student's presentation of their original song "Freedom Flag" can be found here courtesy of Bowdoin Alternative Winter Break.. |
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2012 Media coverage can be found here, and here
Participant feedback:
"I think it was great for the kids to see and realize that MLK mean different things to different people based on the different performances. I can see that it made them happy to see complete strangers come out to support them and hear and see what they had to put out there. The kids seemed genuinely interested in what the other sites did for their part of the performance with the questions and compliments they had for each other."
"Every person who participated in the MLK project showed incredible perseverance, the ability to problem solve effectively, and the social/interpersonal skills necessary to be a part of a productive group. I can't emphasize enough how blown away I am to see the daily growth and improvement in these skill areas by all of the students. For that I am proud."
"This project was hugely impactful for me as an organizer, and also as someone who is around these kids everyday, and invested in their education and well-being. It is rare for a day to go by at the study center without at least one of the students making--from my perspective--very astute/complex comments/questions about race. I often feel that there isn't adequate time/space to unpack these statements/questions fully. I believe that the MLK project successfully opened up some space and time for more dialogue on race, which is something we all need and can benefit from."
"I was really proud of them in the end, because I know how intimidating it can be for some people to get up on stage and sing a song. It was nice to see them all so happy afterwards also, and how they reacted to the positive feedback from people. I think it was a good thing for them and has influenced their lives in a positive way."
Participant feedback:
"I think it was great for the kids to see and realize that MLK mean different things to different people based on the different performances. I can see that it made them happy to see complete strangers come out to support them and hear and see what they had to put out there. The kids seemed genuinely interested in what the other sites did for their part of the performance with the questions and compliments they had for each other."
"Every person who participated in the MLK project showed incredible perseverance, the ability to problem solve effectively, and the social/interpersonal skills necessary to be a part of a productive group. I can't emphasize enough how blown away I am to see the daily growth and improvement in these skill areas by all of the students. For that I am proud."
"This project was hugely impactful for me as an organizer, and also as someone who is around these kids everyday, and invested in their education and well-being. It is rare for a day to go by at the study center without at least one of the students making--from my perspective--very astute/complex comments/questions about race. I often feel that there isn't adequate time/space to unpack these statements/questions fully. I believe that the MLK project successfully opened up some space and time for more dialogue on race, which is something we all need and can benefit from."
"I was really proud of them in the end, because I know how intimidating it can be for some people to get up on stage and sing a song. It was nice to see them all so happy afterwards also, and how they reacted to the positive feedback from people. I think it was a good thing for them and has influenced their lives in a positive way."
2011
Students were given writing prompts about challenges and peaceful resolution. Project "Bio/pic" was shared with the state of Maine in a 4 page color spread in the Maine Sunday Telegram on January 16th 2011.
For the NAACPs anniversary they hosted a black tie dinner instead of the annual breakfast. Winners were chosen from each study center to share their stories at the beginning of the dinner.
PHA Study Centers and Neighborhoods: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Study-centers-bridge-cultural-gaps-in-Portland-2011-01-16.html
Voices of Riverton Park: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Voices-of-Riverton-Park-2011-01-16.html
Voices of Sagamore Village: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Voices-of-Sagamore-Village-2011-01-16.html
Voices of Kennedy Park: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Voices-of-Kennedy-Park-2011-01-16.html
For the NAACPs anniversary they hosted a black tie dinner instead of the annual breakfast. Winners were chosen from each study center to share their stories at the beginning of the dinner.
PHA Study Centers and Neighborhoods: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Study-centers-bridge-cultural-gaps-in-Portland-2011-01-16.html
Voices of Riverton Park: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Voices-of-Riverton-Park-2011-01-16.html
Voices of Sagamore Village: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Voices-of-Sagamore-Village-2011-01-16.html
Voices of Kennedy Park: http://www.pressherald.com/news/Voices-of-Kennedy-Park-2011-01-16.html
2010We challenged students to write 6 word memoirs which were then shared in a published book and distributed.
Students also participated in the annual NAACP Youth breakfast where they learned about civil rights leaders from around the world. |
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2009Following a presentation of the History Channel Documentary "King," we created a triptych of murals of dreams. Each center shared their hopes, dreams, and thoughts of MLK through doves flying over their vision of their community.
Students then attended the MLK Youth Breakfast at the Holiday Inn by the Bay and march down Congress Street. |
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