Happy 2018!
SLP is continuing to grow and we are thrilled to welcome three new faculty members. Amber, Allie, and Rutvika (pictured below) are joining SLP for the spring session of our Residency Program and Service Clubs. Learn more about these three fabulous young women here.
The spring session for SLP’s school-based programs begins in February. We can’t wait to meet the new groups of young activists at our returning partner schools, as well as welcome students from three new schools: the Brooklyn Environmental Exploration School (BEES) in Bedford-Stuyvesant, PS 29 in Cobble Hill, and Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge.
And our Fall session, now winding down, has been so inspiring! Since October, SLP Faculty have been working with more than 200 students, ranging in age from 3rd-10th grade, at schools located throughout Brooklyn. Here are just a few examples of their powerful solutions to their chosen social problems:
- Inspired by concern for family members, 3rd graders in Vinegar Hill produced an incredibly powerful anti-smoking PSA
- Distressed by the more than 1.5 million healthy animals euthuanized each year in the U.S., 3rd graders in Brownsville and 8th graders in Boerum Hill created advocacy campaigns to decrease animal homelessness and eliminate puppy mills. You can help advance their efforts! Ask NYC to join California in banning the sale of any other than rescue and shelter animals in pet stores by adding your name to their petition here.
- Concerned about police bias and misuse of force, 8th graders in Boerum Hill organized an advocacy campaign for a new NYC law requiring only EDP (Emotionally Disturbed Person) trained officers to respond to 911 calls involving New Yorkers with mental health issues. Here is one student’s letter to her local City Councilmember:
- Originally concerned about the preparation of their school lunch, 3rd graders in Vinegar Hill quickly realized from their research that food waste was a much bigger and more pressing problem. They produced a PSA to raise awareness about food waste and encourage students in all grades to help reduce waste in their cafeteria.
Visit our website to read more about these and other student projects.
And finally, a huge thanks to all who participated in our #Giving Tuesday campaign! Your generous donations will be used to bring the Residency Program to one of our new spring sites. Your ongoing support means the world to us – and to our amazing partner sites.
P.S. Stay tuned for a Save the Date for the SLP’s Annual Spring Fundraiser, with a very special musical guest!