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Mr. Curtis from Chicago, IL is requesting books through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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Fully Funded

Mr. Curtis's classroom raised $491

Manifesting our Destiny through Reading and Writing: Part I

My students need 35 copies of the book, "Letters to a Young Brother: Manifest Your Destiny."

Mr. Curtis Phoenix Military Academy

Chicago, IL Grades 9-12

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.

Why are so many students being killed in major cities? This is the question I ask myself every night after I leave my classroom, and come home to watch the late night news. I see repeated reports of horrific acts of violence involving high students. I ask myself, “How can I change the course of my students’ lives?” The answer to that question came to me three years ago, when I started a male mentoring program, The Brotherhood, at the high school where I teach. I wanted to empower and encourage the young men at my high school to manifest their destinies. 95% of my students come from low-income households and receive free and reduced lunches. Many of my students will be the first in their family to go to college, and for some the first in their family to graduate from high school. Sometimes they feel powerless and unequipped to handle the hardships that come their way, but my mentoring program, in conjunction with my classroom activities, allow them to see the gift and destiny that is within them. Within my classroom, and after school twice a week, The Brotherhood’s mission is to empower the young males at my school to be the men they can be in academics, character, respect for themselves, and consequently be better role models. We do this through bi-monthly meetings, field trips, college trips, fellowship activities, community service, and sessions where we just sit around and have "real talk" discussions about prevalent young male issues. We sometimes have guest speakers, and last year we used excerpts of Hill Harper’s book, Letters to a Young Brother, to discuss and analyze life's problems for a young man. This helped the young men see reading as a life changing and active experience for greater knowledge and power. This booked inspired so many of my students, but I only have seven copies of this book. I have to xerox pages of the book to my students, and my students are not able to experience the pure joy of having their own book to read and take home. After I gave a few young men a copy of the first chapter of Letters to a Young Brother, they started sharing about how much they enjoyed the novel and what they learned with me, but most importantly with other students. In a world filled with family pressures, violence, and adult-like responsibilities, this book allows my young men to escape into a world where they are being empowered and encouraged through words of wisdom from Hill Harper. I want to use this book in my classroom and program, and read this book collectively with my students. However, my vision for this project does not stop with just reading this book. This is the first part of the project; by the end of this school year, I want my students to write their own student version of the novel. I want them to write about their experiences and personal hardships, but most importantly, highlight the lessons and wisdom they have gained. My final part of this project would be for my students to publish this book to empower and encourage other teenagers in Illinois, and eventually in the United States. This entire project will give my students a sense of purpose, and help them feel like they are part of the solution to the violence and other hardships facing their communities. Thank for you reading about my young men and my request, and I sincerely hope that you have been inspired and encouraged. Most importantly, I hope that you will partner with us by helping them take the challenge to truly “be the change they wish to see in the world.”

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

35 students impacted 4 donors

Project tagged as

Chicago, IL
Grades 9-12
Literature & Writing
Clubs & Activities
Character Education
Traditional School
Books
More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households

Mr. Curtis Phoenix Military Academy Grades 9-12

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Chicago, IL View local requests

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

35 students impacted 4donors

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

Materials Cost Quantity Total

Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny Hill Harper • Barnes and Noble $10.08 35 $352.80

Materials cost			$352.80
Vendor shipping charges			$35.28
Sales tax			$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee			$5.29
Fulfillment labor & materials			$9.00
Total project cost			$402.37
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			$88.33
Total project goal			$490.70
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal			$490.70
4 Donors			-$479.72
Donations toward project cost			-$402.37
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms			-$77.35
Excluded support for DonorsChoose			-$10.98
Still needed View calculation Hide calculation			$0.00

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Project Activity

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This teacher needs your help!

Manifesting our Destiny through Reading and Writing: Part I

Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

Project tagged as

Boost your odds

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes

How we calculate what's needed

Project Activity

Project Activity

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.