My students need awards for a program of environmental projects, speeches and debates to celebrate Earth Day. We hope to partner with Donors Choose and Disney.
$765 goal
Hooray! This project is fully funded
Hooray! This project is fully funded
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.
The South Bronx is one of the worst environmental locations with substantial asthma rates, polluted brownfields, heavy levels of particulate pollution, and litter. So I have been working with our students to build an environmental law advocacy program. We need the help of Disney and Donors Choose!
Our school is typical of most public school debate teams.
We are located next to the Bronx jail where there is a daily line of inmates coming in and out. On the other side of the street is the criminal court where there is a daily line of criminal cases. The South Bronx is known more for poverty, crime, drugs, gangs, and failing schools than academic opportunities. However, six years ago our school started a debate team. We are the only school in the South Bronx with a debate team. It has grown to nearly 100 students from grades 7th-12th. Their academic abilities range from special education to valedictorian. Their background ranges from abuse, mental institutionalization to perfect attendance. Their behavior ranges from regularly suspended to model student. But they are all united by their passion and love for debating. They spend their days learning about debate, evenings in debate practice, weekends at debate tournaments and summers at debate camps. And this is just one such team!
My Project
We are planning a series of environment projects and debates starting on Earth Day. First, students will research environmental issues that they are passionate about such as global warming, animal rights, homelessness, recycling, etc. Second, they will research online local environmental organizations that they can volunteer with such as parks, zoos, community gardens, etc. Third, students will contact and set up volunteer projects with these organizations. Fourth, they will implement their action projects. They will videotape, photograph, interview staff and clients of the organization, and write about their experience. Fifth, back in the classroom, they will edit and publish their work and prepare for a day of speeches and debates. Sixth, they will present their work to students and parents during monthly service day celebration of environmental speeches and debates. Every single participant will receive a speech award medal thanks to Disney, Donors Choose, and investors like you.
It's a tragedy that in the era of standardized testing that environmental education is not a priority.
We want to change this. We want Earth Day to be Everyday! And that is why we founded the Justice Club. We want to create a permanent program to make a difference. We hope through Donors Choose and Disney we can obtain the means to make a difference. A difference for our students; a difference for our school; a difference for our community; a difference for our environment and planet.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Fogel and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
