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“True peace is not merely the absence of tension;
it is the presence of justice.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Next Generation Scholars takes Dr. Kings' dictum on the presence of justice as the guiding principle in its selection of scholars. All Next Generation Scholars are selected for their commitment to achieving America's promise of equality and justice for all. Scholars go far beyond their high school's required community service hours and truly engage in the struggle for social justice in our communities.
Students start by studying the history of social justice movements in America. Through their study of the Civil Rights Movement, migratory workers' rights, the feminist and gay pride movements, the L.A. walkouts, and the fight for redress for Japanese-Americans, students gain insight into the injustices in our community that directly affect them. Given this historical understanding, they are then able to formulate action plans for social justice projects in their own communities.
The
Phoenix Project – Sergei Hanukovich
Sergei
is a tremendous young activist. Growing up in a childhood fraught with
violence, Sergei could have chosen to bury his pain or act out
negatively. Instead, this young man has become a champion in the struggle
against violence in our community. By sharing his own story of survival,
this young man has organized fellow young survivors to bear witness and to give
a face to the statistics. Through his work at schools and community
centers, Sergei has given young survivors across the county the chance to rise
above violence and to ensure their right to a safe childhood.
Food
for Thought – Tyler Willis
Here in
Marin poverty is invisible to so many, but Tyler knows first hand what poverty
is. From his childhood spent with his family in Bahia, Brazil, Tyler
knows what it is wish for something that is never going to come and to not know
where your next meal is going to come from. It is from this lived
experience, that Tyler came to create the FOOD FOR THOUGHT program.
The FOOD FOR THOUGHT program, quite simply, saved us. It did not exist a year ago, but today, because of Tyler, it is a central part of the services we provide our scholars. No one can deny you cannot study if you are worried about if there will be enough to feed your family. Tyler’s dedication to FOOD FOR THOUGHT has enabled all of our families to breathe easier and work harder to achieve their college dreams.
Latino Culture Class
Disappointed their elementary education did not include more than a handout on Cesar Chavez, two Next Generation Scholars created a curriculum, secured classroom space and taught a weekly Latino Culture class. Children of the Canal community enjoyed writing bi-lingual poetry, making piñatas, dancing the bachata, and re-enacting the East LA walkouts.
Mother's Day at Marin Abused Women's Services
Raised by a brave mother who saved him and his siblings from a violent father, a Next Generation Scholar decided to create a proper Mother's Day for the families living in the Marin Abused Women's Shelter. Together with his Next Generation classmates, this young man wrote and won a grant to create "Mother's Day In a Box." Each box contained the entire makings of a Mother's Day pancake breakfast as well as gifts for all the mothers and a craft box for the children. This craft box enabled each child to create a handmade Mother's Day's card. Sent with these boxes was a letter of hope from our Next Generation Scholar who had survived domestic violence and organized the project for the mothers and their children. He continued his "In the Box Project" throughout his senior year making Valentine's Day, Back to School, Halloween, and Happy Holidays in A Box.
The Murrieta Project
 Knowing the great divide between the Haves and the Have-Nots in Marin County, Next Generation Scholars sought out ways they could bridge the gap. One Next Generation Scholar, who attended a local private school on scholarship, noticed the lost and found was constantly overflowing and his school struggled to have students claim their items. At the end of each semester, piles of clothes and backpacks went unclaimed. He and a group of fellow Next Generation Scholars approached several private schools and arranged to collect their unclaimed lost and found items. Together the scholars routinely wash and sort over 35 loads of lost and found clothing. The final step of the project is to distribute these clean, recycled items to families in need. One of the Next Generation Scholars who led the community outreach part of this project, noted, “I was at the park with my sister and it was amazing to see how many people in the neighborhood we were able to help. I saw all these kids wearing the hoodies we found for them.”
The Holiday Project
Many students remember standing in a line waiting to receive a gift from the Salvation Army. Though they wanted to receive a gift for Christmas, the experience was often humiliating and isolating. Together, seven Next Generation Scholars put together a holiday party that greeted each family, served a hot meal and included games, crafts and gifts for the children.
The following year, a new class of Next Generation Scholars brought new goals for the Holiday Project. This time, they wanted to serve twice as many families, to have all events presented in two languages, and to ensure gifts for the elders in the community.
Every year, the Holiday Project has continued to evolve. Each year, a new class of students puts their own individual spin on the event. Today, the Holiday Project has become the largest completely youth-run holiday event in the county serving over 250 people a year.
Improv at the MYC
Angered by the state cuts in arts education, a Next Generation Scholar decided to create a summer class that gave all students access to theater classes. Teaching various acting techniques using multi-cultural plays, she was able to build connections between communities and provide a free arts education to those who had been denied one. Through this class, a student was able to give our community the rich curriculum it had lost.
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