Homelessness Service-Learning Project

11th grade U.S. history students determined that homelessness was a problem in their community. The project partner was the Los Angeles Mission, a multi-service homeless service center in Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. The Mission was in great need of socks, underwear, and toiletries, so prior to volunteering at the Mission the students held a drive at school and collected more than 30 boxes full of these items. We hand-delivered the items on the day of our field trip to the Mission. Students and teachers spent 2.5 hours working in the morning doing tasks such as folding clothes, cleaning, cooking, and filing. In the afternoon students toured the facility and ended with a 10 minute walk around Skid Row, a perfect culminating activity, as it reminded students about the reality of being homeless in Los Angeles

7th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Walk

K-12 students throughout Los Angeles County learn about Cesar E. Chavez and the Farm Worker Movement through age appropriate in-class curricula, student activities, and video presentations. Students learn about the living and working conditions of migrant farm workers, the importance of agricultural, and current efforts to bring about changes in the lives of migrant farm workers. Students then plan school-based assemblies and events, including student-generated art, theater, spoken word, music etc. to educate the entire school about the contributions of Cesar E. Chavez and other important civil rights leaders and to get students involved in the 7th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Walk-a-Thon. Students involved in the Chavez Walk talk to teachers, students, and neighbors to solicit donations for their participation in the Walk. The culminating project is the Cesar E. Chavez Walk on April 2nd, a community-wide celebration held the weekend after Cesar Chavez Day to empower and inform community members about the importance of organizing and taking action in their communities. Together, Sí Se Puede

Gang Prevention Service-Learning Project

11th grade U.S. History students have determined that 6-7th grade youth are the age group susceptible to joining gangs. The Jefferson High School youth worked on an assembly program to educate middle school students at Los Angeles Academy about the realities of gang life and the alternatives that exist to avoid future gang affiliation and involvement. Skits, speakers, pamphlets, collages, surveys, and small groups discussions were used to promote gang prevention

Recycling Service-Learning Project

11th grade students identified needs related to excess campus trash and a school budget crisis. They chose to tackle both issues by expanding South Gates recycling program. Students partnered with the LA Conservation Corps recycling programto set-up a large recycling bin, arrange for pick-up and disposal, and generate proceeds for school improvement. The students were responsible for a major education campaign on campus as well as the logistics of the project including the location of the recycling bin. The education campaign included: making and distributing posters and flyers, classroom and PowerPoint presentations on recycling, intercom announcements, and information on the schools scrolling marquee

Cesar Chavez: Service Fair of Values

Cesar E. Chavez was one of the most significant and influential civil rights leaders of our time. Chavez devoted himself to social justice and improving the lives of the impoverished and oppressed. His name, like the name of Martin Luther King, Jr., speaks of character and commitment. This project is in honor of the life and work of Cesar E. Chavez. The Cesar E. Chavez Service Fair of Values project is a multi-faceted experience that will provide your students with a vehicle for service learning that embodies Cesar Chavez\u27 values. Whether used to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day (March 31, 2003) with your class or simply as a part of regular class studies, this project guide will help enhance and support the Academic Curriculum. This experience will bring to life Cesar Chavez, his values and philosophy, and his efforts to reform conditions for migrant workers in California. Using service as the vehicle for learning, students will also gain a sense of civic responsibility and understand the importance of giving back to their communities. This project will focus on the intermediate and upper grade levels and may be modified and adopted at any grade level

Transportation Mural

10th-12th grade identified graffiti as one of the main problems in their community; in order to combat this in a creative way the students decided to paint a mural to discourage tagging. As a part of the Transportation Academy at Franklin High School their mural depicted a timeline of transportation in the American West—from walking, to horses, to trains, and finally the local Gold Line Metro rail. The students partnered with a local mural artist to create a vibrant and colorful mural. 100 students participated in the design and painting and so far the wall has remained graffiti-free

Model Chavez Service-Learning Project

The Volunteer Center of Orange County and 4th grade teachers from Santa Ana, Newport and other parts of Orange County worked together to develop the “Educating the Heart” Cesar E. Chavez service-learning project. The “Educating the Heart” project is a multi-faceted service-learning experience that supports the Academic Curriculum and provides 4th grade students with a unique hands-on perspective of California History. This experience brings to life Cesar E. Chavez, his values, and his efforts to reform conditions for migrant farm workers in California. Using service as a vehicle for learning, students will also gain a sense of civic responsibility and understand the importance of giving back to their communities

Community Needs Assessment Guide

To ensure students have a clear understanding of the importance of a community needs assessment, gauge their understanding of “community” and “need.

The New Majority 2000

9th-12th grade students enrolled in a month-long Intersession class organized by members of their faculty and service-learning coaches from the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation. For three hours a day for four weeks, students learned about The New Majority 2000 and planned various community projects that would help address the needs of this new majority. They planned an assembly for the senior students at school where they were informed of important political issues such as the environment, military, the Patriot Act, gay marriage, and education and were given the opportunity to register to vote. The culminating project was a community focused rally held on Cesar Chavez Day to empower and inform community members about the importance of voting and being civically involved

Food Quality and Food Choice Project

Students at Southgate High School identified school improvement as a pressing need. Students chose to focus specifically on the dissatisfaction with food served on campus. Students developed a campus wide survey to report on improvements that can be made in food service as well as healthy food alternatives in cafeteria and vending machines. Students also learned about the value of good nutrition and the lack of quality and fresh food available in low-income communities of color