Hillcrest Elementary School 2017-2018 Innovation Awards

The Design Challenge

How might we, as the adults at Hillcrest (educators, parents, community members), work together to support students in designing a Black Student Union, in order to develop their sense of identity, belonging, and safety at school while addressing factors t

The Hillcrest community is increasingly aware that some of their African American students are struggling to define who they are and where they come from in positive terms in an increasingly hostile social and economic environment. Students have presented experiences and worries to staff that reflect their struggles around identity, positive self-image, and personal narrative. The design team wants to create dedicated time and space for African American students to explore issues of cultural identity, foster a positive sense of agency and community, and to develop an awareness of the specific academic and social factors that create obstacles for students of color in the early stages of their academic careers.

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