Giselle has studied hip hop culture and created a project that will not only positively influence her peers but include them in the process by creating a mural for our school. She will draw her images on the wall and invite all students to create a space that celebrates their life and story.
Our school requires seniors to research, participate, and present a service learning project as part of their graduation requirement. Students were encouraged to choose topics that they were passionate about, and create a sustainable service project that would impact others. Giselle, who is an artist in her own right, suggested an organization her father was familiar with that encouraged kids to join in a mural after school program. Originally, she was planning on joining their program and inviting others to join. I challenged her to create a proposal for a similar program in our school. We discussed challenges, obstacles, time management, and participation. When she realized the cost of her project, I mentioned Donors Choose, and she was eager to apply.
My students will develop both academic and practical skills through this project that will prepare them for college and their careers in many ways. They will research the role of murals in the aesthetic, social, and economic revitalization of communities. In addition, my students will develop drawing, painting, logistics, strategy, and process planning as well as understanding and selecting materials, critical thinking, and problem-solving. They will build cooperative, leadership, and team building skills as well.
In Their Own Words
My project is to create a mural that was inspired by hip hop culture as part of my senior service project. I researched how hip hip culture has influenced many young people across the country. For my service I designed and will paint a mural that depicts a girl holding the world in her hands alongside the words of "The World Is Yours" with graduating students in the background. I am having other students volunteer helping me paint so as they can be part of the process.
I designed the drawing and layout of the entire project. I plan to organize a meeting of volunteers that are committed to working on this project from beginning to end. I will be explaining my purpose and goals and divide people into groups. Each group will have a specific part of the mural painting, be responsible for supplies, and help engage others.
My project is very important to me, because hip hop has played a big part in my life and in the lives of many. My project will bring people together in making a positive change in our school culture by creating something as a community. I hope that when the mural is complete, everyone will walk away with a greater understanding and knowledge of youth and hip hop culture and service learning.
More than a third 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
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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 Mrs. Septimus and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"NJ","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":4,"name":"High School"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/the-world-is-yours/1821790/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":100,"isEquityFocusV1":false,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Septimus","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"-1530757778","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"shouldTrackEquityFocusV2":true,"schoolCity":"Hoboken","teachersOnPage":[1011198],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":true,"proposalId":1821790,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"schoolId":101784,"schoolName":"Hoboken Charter School - Upper School","authorIds":{"1011198":{"owner":"Mrs. Septimus","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[1821790],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1011198_orig.jpg?crop=512,512,x36,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1746495628191","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":267192,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MzA4ODkzMw==","MjY2Mjk=","MzQ4NDYzMQ==","MzQ2NTMzMQ==","MzQxNTE2NA=="],"teacherId":1011198,"schoolCounty":"Hudson","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":true,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"NJ","name":"New Jersey"}}
