Horizons Students Share their Campaign!

As the year approaches it's end and schools across the country are preparing for their winter breaks, Horizons high school students have been preparing for it's annual, "More Than Just a Word" performance. The students take time from their normal curriculum to put together multiple short skits and performances. Every student participated in skits about a gay high school couple, a twisted sleeping beauty story, and a transexual story. There was break dancing and hip hop singers.

Opening up "More Than Just a Word" was one of the groups from our "Be the Change" Curriculum. This group presented to the audience the 1000 pinwheels they planned to send to the President. The students are going to make a wish on their 1000 pinwheels for cleaner energy resources. We are glad that the kids were able to share their pinwheels with the audience and are so proud of of their hard work! A special thanks to Erin Glynn, from the Sierra Club, for providing the kids t-shirts and moral support.

Josie Figueroa
American Friends Service Committee

Atlanta, Prepare Yourself!!

Our pilot program, "Be The Change Curriculum" just keeps getting more and more interesting. This week we had the pleasure of pairing young Atlanta artists and community organizers with one of seven high school student groups.

Our goal was to help each student group create a stronger analysis of the issue they had chosen to address, sharpen their focus, explore community resources, develop clear next steps, and individual accountability.

We pretty much lucked out and roped in an amazing crew of young dynamic organizers. We had WonderRoot Community Art Center Co-founder Chris Appleton, WonderRoot program manager Kwajelyn Jackson, Sierra Club field organizer Erin Glynn, Student Career Alternatives Program organizer Josie Figueroa, LGBTQ advocate Christina Vega, Living Walls organizer and street artist Monica Campana, and myself each took on a group for 90 minutes before coming back together to and let each student group present their next steps.

We don't want to let all the details out about what each group is planning organizing in the coming months but I will say that everyone present was pretty excited about the campaigns that each group is getting closer to launching.

Atlanta, prepare yourself for an unstopable force.

Monica, Chris, Kwajelyn, Josie, Christina, and Erin
Thanks You,Thank You, Thank You!!! Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to spend with Horizons students. You all made a strong impression and your impact on the students campaign work was felt:)




Tim Franzen
America Friends Service Committee