Inner-City Outreach
Submitted by: Ann Category: Engaging in Our Community
The Big Idea
As an educator in south Los Angeles, I am dismayed by my student 's lack of knowledge about cultures and experiences outside of their own community (this becomes glaringly obvious, particularly when it comes to winter celebrations). Many children in the inner-city lack hope that things can be better. I have a great deal of respect for the Jewish people tenacity, determination to succeed. These are qualities I want my students to see expressed in the lives others. And I want them to desire these qualities for themselves. I propose an after-school mentorship program taught by Jewish young adults for children in an inner-city school. Each mentor would be assigned to a student for a year and would help with homework, teach good study habits, leadership, financial acumen things students in the inner-city aren 't exposed to since most are just trying to survive.
The Impact
This is an opportunity for outreach to share with youngsters who aren't fortunate enough to have a strong support system. In turn, inner-city students would gain life skills, exposure and an appreciation for a people and culture they would not otherwise have any contact with.
This Is A Great Idea Because
This project would involve three communities, African-American, Latino and Jewish, to the benefit of all three. Each group would gain a better understanding and appreciation for the other