Blog Archives - AHS * HUMANITIES 11

AHS * HUMANITIES 11

Project Proposal Tunes

10/31/2017

Starter

Come up with a project tune focusing question. This should be a question you are grappling with for your project and that you'd want your project tuners to focus on in giving you feedback today.

Event Planning Committee: Spend this time researching potential keynote speakers!

Class Biz

1. County Commissioner, Julie Westendorf, is coming to meet with the event planning committee tomorrow at 10:15. Please be prepared to...

Share out your vision for the event
Ask questions about how we might get government officials involved and if there is potential for a community concerns/solution forum to be held WITH government officials at our event. Also, you might ask her for any other ideas she as as well as in general what her perception of the homeless "problem" in our community is and what solutions she supports.

2. Deadlines for this week-- let's look at the project calendar!

Agenda

Review project tune protocol
Project Tunes (see the groupings on the whiteboard!)

POST-PROJECT TUNE WORK TIME TASKS (before you leave today!!)

Write your reflection as indicated at the end of the project tune protocol document in your starter doc
BUDGET!! If you have financial needs for your project, complete the budget survey embedded below. This is due by the end of class, Wednesday. If you don't submit it by then, you are on your own! Direct link is here: BUDGET SURVEY
Begin refining your proposal based on feedback/insights from project tune!
Sign up for a conference with Ashley and let's begin those conferences

Project Proposal Work Time

10/26/2017

Starter

Find something online that could PUSH your project idea even further and then complete the google form below with your name and the link. This should be related to your project idea but serve as further inspiration. I will then show some of these as examples for the class to inspire us all to think bigger, better, bolder!

For instance, check out these cool interactive art exhibits about homelessness!

Here are the resources you all found today!

Remember: "There are leaders, and there are those who lead. Those who lead INSPIRE!!!"- Simon Sinek

Agenda

1. Review the guidelines for the project proposal outlined on pages 1-2 of the Project Guidelines doc.

I will provide some examples/further explanation on the 4th question of the Mission/Vision worksheet regarding audience motivations.

2. SIGN UP ON THE POSTER WITH YOUR NAME(S) and PROJECT IDEA!!!

3. Project Proposal Work Time + Honors meeting to go over Historical Analysis Essay Guidelines

4. @ 11:30 and 2:00: Example Project Proposal Tune! --2 people from the event planning committee will be "tuned" and I need a couple other people to help tune with me!

Mission and Vision Workshop + Project Proposal Work Day

10/25/2017

SPECIAL SCHEDULE

8:25-9:10    1st period
9:13-9:58     2nd period
10:01-10:31   All School Meeting (Commons)
10:34-11:19 3rd period
11:21-12:06 4th period
12:07-12:40 Lunch
12:43-1:35 Advisory

Starter

Watch Simon Sinek's TED Talk and as you do, follow along with the transcript I give you in class.

Write down a line/phrase that really strikes you!
We'll do a spirit read after watching.

Sinek, author of Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, shares a simple model on how to become an inspirational leader: Start with a circle, and start with "Why?" Sinek uses examples like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Apple to illustrate why this is effective.

Class Biz

Invitation to a Community Housing Forum for those interested in housing solutions for low-income/homeless people! See the doc below:

AGENDA

1. Share-out your current idea for your project to help spark ideas for each other!

--> Figure out our groups!

2. Review our problem statement and goal for this project and go over the Project Guidelines (see docs page)
3. Mission/Vision Workshop (community event planning group-- you're doing the mission/vision for our event!!!)
4. Project Proposal Work Time (Draft due Monday for peer critique and to lead into conferences with Ashley!)

--> By the end of class, sign up with your group on the poster!!

MISSION EXAMPLES

Durango Homeless Coalition
“The mission of the Durango Homeless Coalition is to create lasting solutions that assist,
through the local continuum of care, in addressing the needs of the homeless and at‐risk
families and individuals in our community.”

San Juan Mountain SOLES
"Inspire young women to lead healthy, fulfilling lives rooted in big mountains, confident leadership and authentic community engagement."

Patagonia clothing, etc...
Build the best product,
cause no unnecessary harm,
use business to inspire and
implement solutions to the
environmental crisis.

VISION EXAMPLES

San Juan Mountain SOLES
SOLES will build a community of young women in our region who actively lead themselves and their peers to pursue healthy, fulfilling lives and contribute to the betterment of the San Juan Mountain region through environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and mentorship. Sisters will carry the lessons gleaned from their SOLES experience throughout and beyond their high school experience.

IKEA
Envisions a world where everyday life is better for its customers

Project Launch and Solution Ideation Brainstorm

10/24/2017

Starter

Turn and Chat with a neighbor: What do you think the other person's spirit animal is? Why? Defend with evidence.

Agenda

Check-in on problem statements. I think we need to get much more narrow and specific in what precise problem within homelessness we want to tackle as a class. I'm going to have you all take action to solve that problem in whatever way you individually or in small groups think is best, but in order for us to make a bigger impact as a class, it would be better to try to address the same problem. Plus, given our limited time frame, we'll feel more impactful focusing our efforts. So before we finish the research share-out process, reign in those problem statements. For instance, here is what we were toying with in the afternoon class yesterday, which is way way too broad. "Durango’s increasing homeless population is unsustainable and has led to increased tension in our community among homeless and non-homeless alike. Limited access to resources for the unhoused population and limited understanding on behalf of the housed population causes mistrust between the housed and unhoused communities, fear for personal security, and potential environmental and economic degradation."
Finish focus group research share-out process from yesterday (30 minutes)
Project Guidelines Overview (20 minutes)
Let's brainstorm solutions in the "innovation", "artistic reaction" and "community outreach" pathways (10 minutes)
Project Proposal work time (rest of class)

POSSIBLE TAKE ACTION PROJECTS:

JOIN THIS COALITION "The Durango City Council and the La Plata County Commission may reconvene a coalition focused on homelessness"
National Alliance to End Homelessness:
- National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
- Scholarship for the 2018 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness on March 1-2

Research Share-out and Analyzing the Problem Day!

10/23/2017

Starter

TURN IN YOUR RESEARCH NOTES TO ASHLEY! Then......
Check out this website with stories of/by people who are homeless that Saige shared on the "On Fleek" Resource page. Pick one story to read and write a reaction to it-- What stands out? What surprises you? What insights did it spark for you? Etc....

Today's Goal

Share out your group's research and understand the most important research ideas from the other groups in order to thoroughly analyze the problem.

AGENDA

Let's scope out the agenda today AND quickly look over a SUPER SUPER helpful resource that contains the Durango Homeless Coalition's report on their findings from surveys/interviews with local people who are homeless. (Report permanently linked on my Docs page, too)

Step 1: In Focus Group's share your individual notes and make sure each person understands the big picture and can present on the WHOLE group's findings in our next round.

Step 2: Go over our Focus Group Research share-out process.

Focus Group Research Share-out!

Two groups, big tables pulled together.
Elect one "task-master" to keep group on track, and read instructions for each step of the process.
Each individual student should take notes on this Focus Group Research Share-out process document.

Step 3: Solution Ideation Brainstorm

Read this news article on a school in Aurora, CO engineering a solution to homelessness
Review problem statements your groups came up with
Let's brainstorm solutions in the "innovation", "artistic reaction" and "community outreach" pathways.

Research Wrap up and Peer Critique

10/20/2017

Starter

What was yesterday's field trip like? Describe the trip to me since I wasn't there and react to your experience. What were your key takeaways?

Class Biz

1. Research due beginning of class on Monday!
2. Template for organizing your research if you're interested (better late than never)
3. National Alliance to End Homelessness:

Scholarship for the 2018 National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness on March 1-2
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

4. Who went to the city/county meeting? Update? let's read Donna Mae's email to me about it!
5. Email from Donna Mae:
Hello Ashley,
I'm so glad I was able to make the presentations on-time, after an unexpected stop on the way.

Your students seemed engaged, I was so very impressed. I really hope I can hear from them down the road to see if they continue to have concerns for the Homeless in our town. You should know that I was surprised to learn how many people knew of a person homeless.

La Plata Youth Services wants a count the last week of October. If you and your students could survey other students to take a Point In Time Study, let me know. I'll have LPYS contact you with the questions to ask in the short survey.

Thought you could share this with your students of the Humanitarian House insulated tubular PVCTent. The hard tent adjusts for number of occupants: sm (one or two); med (two to three); large (family). It can be adjusted for a common building for showers, bathrooms.

Video of Architect Stuart Ohlson is at:
http://www.humanitarianhouseinternational.com/details.php.

Agenda

Debrief Test Tracks field trip
Peer Critique on research findings
Refine and wrap up research! Due Monday!!

Morning Class Peer Critique Groups

Group 1: Henry, Claire, Baylee
Group 2: Saige, Steven, Corbin
Group 3: Lydia, Ryan, Colton,
Group 4: Brigid, Cole, Jack
Group 5: Amaya, Owen, Kathrine
Group 6: Chloe, Janey, Eli, Carter
Group 7: Megan, Ari, Ethan
Group 8: Finn, Andy, Jack, Larrea

Afternoon Class Peer Critique Groups

Group 1: Cady, Gage, Tanner
Group 2: Alix, Charlie, Josie, Sareth
Group 3: Alan, Owen, Amanda
Group 4: Emery, Lucius, Sarah
Group 5: Jake, Nyana, Caeley
Group 6: Ava, Harley, John

Donna Mae Guest Speaker and Focus Group Research, Continued

10/18/2017

Guest Speaker: Donna Mae!

Here is her powerpoint presentation

Class Biz

1. Permission forms? Turn them in please!

2. SLC's tonight! Schedule is here: SIGN-UP

3. City/County meeting for Thursday

7:30-9:30 am; Thursday morning!
@ County Administration Building, 1101 East 2nd Avenue

4. Research due Monday. Friday will be a peer critique

Focus Group Research time AGENDA

Those who cooked dinner at the Shelter last night-- share out!

Focus Group Research time!!

Get together with your group and decide on your goals. Have one representative report out to Ashley what each group member is doing today.
Develop interview questions and contact your assigned peeps!
Do online research-- don't forget to consult and add to the "On Fleek Resource" doc (on docs page)

SLC Prep and Focus Group Research Continued

10/17/2017

Starter

Come up with 3 questions you want to ask your parents at SLC's about either their own life when they were juniors OR what they hope for you to accomplish as a junior and beyond.

Class Biz

1. Permission forms? Turn them in please!

2. SLC's tomorrow! These students need to SIGN-UP still:

Colton, Brandon, Lucious, Gage, Jake, Megan, Nyana, Jack, Larrea, Steven,

3. Update on the City/County meeting for Thursday

7:30-9:30 am; Thursday morning!
@ County Administration Building, 1101 East 2nd Avenue

4. Homeless Shelter meal crew-- let's just meet at 3:45 at school and drive together!

AGENDA

30 MINUTES: SLC prep

Jot down notes/note cards on the questions on the SLC handout
Decide on which pieces of "evidence" you'd like to show your parents for LINK prep or other academic work to support your answers to the interview questions
Practice the interview with a friend

Homelessness Research
Morning class:

Resource Mapping and deciding on which orgs/people to contact with questions
Develop interview questions and contact your assigned peeps!
Do online research-- don't forget to consult and add to the "On Fleek Resource" doc (on docs page)

Afternoon class:

Work on coming up with more interview questions and getting answers from your peeps!
Do online research-- don't forget to consult and add to the "On Fleek Resource" doc (on docs page)

Community Asset/Resource Mapping

10/16/2017

Starter

Generate a list of all of the community organizations/people you know of that are addressing homelessness in Durango. Challenge-- beyond Durango?

Class Biz

Let's review this week's schedule of events
Permission forms!!
SLC's
Honors essay due tomorrow
Homeless Shelter meal tomorrow-- meet there at 4 pm sharp OR leave from school with Ashley at 3:45 (Caeley, Amanda, Nyana, Sareth, Evan and _____?)
Anyone interested in attending the City/County meeting on Thursday morning wherein they will be discussing homelessness and report out to the class? Meeting starts at 7:45.
Check out this document with quality resources for our Justice project. Please add to this if you find a resource that is "on fleek". It will be up on my Documents page too.
Aliza works at a school for homeless youth. One member from each group should consider emailing her questions on behalf of your group.

Today's Goal

Get a map of all the community assets related to Durango and choose one you'll email to interview for more research.

Agenda

Morning Class

Afternoon Class

10:15-11: Guest Speaker, Mari with Food Not Bombs!

11-12:02: Focus Group Research!

First we'll review the THIS RUBRIC for your research

Do you all have a system for individually keeping track of your notes?
Check-in: How much longer do you need to research?
Refine your problem statements if need be
Add rad resources to this document

Check-in: How much longer do we need to research the problem?

Resource Mapping Activity

Powerpoint on why asset map and handout
Brainstorm list of assets as a class-- Categorize them!
Google Map in partners of all the community assets in Durango!
Share the map and email to me and focus group members
Now do this for state/four corners resources related to your focus group- I'll demonstrate first.
In partners, find the two orgs you think is most interesting or useful, then share out to whole group and then pick a few organizations your group wants to interview-- one locally and at least out of state. Write your group topic and the orgs on white board.
Now email them with questions-- See list of possible questions handout and also use whichever of your groups research questions you think they could answer. If you are wanting to get an A, remember you need to be getting a diversity of perspectives, so you could use these responses so I’d encourage you to email an org!

Focus Group Research

10/13/2017

Starter

Definition of Social Justice:
Social justice issues occur globally, nationally, regionally, locally, and within groups. These issues are a result of unequal wealth and resource distribution, unfair treatment of individuals with differing traits (race, culture, sexual orientation, religion, etc), and laws that support segregation.

Do you think Homeless is a social justice issue? Or rather an issue of injustice? Explain!

Goals of our focus group research

Our goal on this step of our project is to develop a depth of understanding from MULTIPLE perspectives on the major issues related to homelessness and to begin to understand how Durango and other communities seek to solve address those issues.
We will then move on to brainstorming solutions and get feedback from various stakeholders to ensure those solutions will be effective.
Then we'll try to implement solutions! Hooray!

Class Biz

On Monday, Mari from "Food not Bombs" is coming in to speak to the morning class.
Chrissy from the homeless shelter is coming to speak to the afternoon class.
Wednesday- Donna Mae is coming!
Ryan-- can you film Mari? And send me youtube video from Willie's call?
Thank you cards for our guests from this week!
Homeless shelter chefs, Tuesday!! If there is enough interest, I can try to arrange for another night.
Next Thursday we'll go on a tour of Test Tracks. I need parent drivers though! PLEASE COMPLETE THE PERMISSION FOR by TUESDAY of next week! And ask your parents if they can drive for our class (and the other class if possible too!)
Student Led Conferences are next Wednesday 10/19
Missing Justice books!

Agenda

1. What were the key takeaways from Ed and Tom's presentations in terms of effective community organizing and solution-ing??

Empowerment
Compromise
Support services
Partnerships
Hope
Mutual Understanding and Respect
Listening and soliciting feedback from multiple points of view!

2. Is Homelessness a Social Justice issue or rather an issue of Injustice? Why?

Read this editorial in The Huffington Post: "Homelessness, Racism and Social Justice"
Discuss your reactions in your group- do you agree with the author? Does this seem relevant to you in some way in our community?

3. Powerpoint and activity on Framing the "PROBLEM"-- WHY and HOW should we frame the problem?

In your research groups, get into partners. Between the two of you, Come up with a problem statement.
Now share it with the rest of your group. Create a new problem statement as a group, incorporating best wording and key ideas from all statements.
Write your group's problem statement on the white board. Ashley will select/combine the clearest ones.

4. Let's quickly review the rubric for research and share out ideas for quality resources!

5. Check out this document with quality resources for our Justice project. Please add to this if you find a resource that is "on fleek". It will be up on my Documents page too.

6. Focus Group Research time! HOW MUCH MORE TIME DO YOU THINK YOU NEED ON THIS PHASE??