Stand & Deliver Challenge Projects - May 12, 2015

SDlofo bwThe Stand & Deliver curriculum is revised each year to enhance the correlation between our course objectives and the educational standards and objectives of the State of New Jersey.

In the spring of 2015, Stand & Deliver groups developed and implemented community service projects under the guidelines of the Stand & Deliver Challenge Project. Each community service project meets the following criteria:

  • Promotes the theme, “Be the Change” in one’s school, organization, or community.
  • Is developed and implemented by the students in the Stand & Deliver program at each site.
  • Utilizes communication skills developed in the Stand & Deliver program.
  • Is reflected in a student generated Project Paper detailing the service project.
  • Is documented through photographs, PowerPoint presentations, and participation in the Stand & Deliver All-Stars Symposium, where students showcase their projects through dramatic presentations.

Each Stand & Deliver Challenge Project was planned and executed by the students, and each project has a positive effect on school or community. The following descriptions will give you a glimpse into the monumental efforts of the students who completed Stand & Deliver 2015 Challenge Projects:

Project Overviews

Stand & Deliver Site: Bard High School Early College, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Healthy Teen Communication”
Project Summary: The Raptors Team tackled the complex topic of the effects of violent culture on teens. They created a safe place in their school where they facilitated conversations about a wide variety of issues of violence in our society and how violence affects teens. In preparation for the conversations, they conducted extensive research on violence in the media and in video games, domestic violence on children and adults, teen suicide, and school shootings. Bard students and the school principal joined the discussion.
Workshop Leader: Jaeden Jones
Student Team: Kalimah Muhammed, Afua Anuchi, Meliyah Clark, Chemezie Akegha,Kalifah Benard, Marley Pierre, Nja Berry, Luz Marie Lugo, Michael Owusu-Baah

Stand & Deliver Site: Boys & Girls Club of Elizabeth

Project Title: “College is for You”
Project Summary: The College is for You Team is concerned that students who lack the confidence to believe that they can succeed in college, just don’t apply. The College is for You Team talked to their peers and focused on overcoming these perceptions. They used information from research and anecdotes from their peers to develop a dramatic presentation that gives hope and encourages everyone to go to college and succeed.
Workshop Leader: Candace Barnes Site Coordinator: Lakeish Oates
Student Team: Ja’Nae Morales, Jalah Oates, William Garner, Milagros Lopez, Tyonna Coley, Al-Tahnay Wells, Najiyyah Dunn, Sha’don Taylor, Rashon Kirkland, Imani Wells, Tyson Dukes, Terrell Dukes, Sincere Lyles, Jadon Taylor, Raquan Jones
Stand & Deliver Site: Central High School, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Be the Change for the Face of Social Media”
Project Summary: The Big Blue Informants are concerned about the impact of social media practices on bullying of students in their school. They conducted a survey which had shocking results: over half of the students surveyed reported having at some time been a victim of bullying. In response to the survey results, the Big Blue Informants started a program at Central High School where adults in the building make themselves available during the school day to listen and talk to students who are upset or traumatized by any type of bullying. In addition, the students in the Big Blue Informants participated in various youth summits and organizations in order to increase awareness about bullying and cyber bullying.
Workshop Leader: Dennis K. Philbert
Student Team: LaTina Randall, Taj Atkinson, Christopher Craig, Alicia Glenn, Wykhil Williams, Sajjadah Al-Amin, Jakirah Paul, Tajani Tomlinson, Zadirah Williams, Deion Session, Priscilla Asmaoh

Stand & Deliver Site: Marion A. Bolden Student Center, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Time for a Change”
Project Summary: The Seasons of Love Team’s service project focused on countering social isolation. They encouraged their peers and families to appreciate each other and to build real relationships, rather than focusing on social media contacts such as Facebook or Twitter friends. Students conducted a one question survey, asking, “If you only had one day to live, how would you spend your time?” The results indicated that family and pets mean most to the majority of people. They concluded that time interacting with others is very valuable. They charged themselves with increasing quality in-person time, and with sharing their newly gained awareness with their peers.
Workshop Leader: Keshia Green
Student Team: Kareem Merrill, Demi Sparks, Andre Lawrence, Christopher Greer, Camille Merrill, Chelsea Guiterez, Chelsea Pegram, Ayanna Adkins, Aaliyah Donaldson

Stand & Deliver Site: NJCDC Great Falls Teen Center

Project Title: “Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good”
Project Summary: The Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good Team focused on improving the self-esteem of students in their school. First, they decided to be good examples by dressing in business attire for school. Then, in the school cafeteria, they created the opportunity for students to give sticky notes with compliments and inspirational quotes to students they felt were deserving. Students and adults participated.
Workshop Leader: Shari S. Kerr
Site Coordinator: Quashima Robinson
Student Team: Tanjim Ahmed, Jahmir Kelson, Nashanti Davies, Jays Collick, Erik Castro, Soila Rodriguez, Adim Oxha, Miguel Ruiz
Stand & Deliver Site: Robert Treat Academy, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Bullying”
Project Summary: The Leaders of Tomorrow Team used their communication skills to teach 2nd grade students at their school what to do and what not to do and how to exercise choice in bullying situations. The students enacted and recorded videos of various bullying situations, showed the video to the younger students and engaged in dialogue. The 2nd graders then engaged in role playing and decision-making exercises. This session was recorded for future use.
Workshop Leader: Jennifer F. Bogar Site Coordinator: Kathran Callan
Student Team: Lesley Cevallos, Ashley Cordero, Joceline Cosme, Tyrone Lee, Ebony Marshall, Nerena Nerahoo, Jordan Skillern, Camille Strand, Mia Toledo-Navarro

Stand & Deliver Site: St. Vincent Academy, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “The Four No-s”
Project Summary: The Four No-s Team project focused on raising awareness about women’s rights, specifically, sexual violence against women, and why it is important to raise awareness that the word, “No” always means, “No!” This message was conveyed in a skit depicting a college student and her friends in an intense conversation about her having been sexually assaulted. Within the skit, various perspectives are presented, and she confronts her assailant.
Workshop Leader: Jennifer Kohl
Site Coordinator: Sister June Favata
Student Team: Ayana Allison, Paulina Ortiz, Kiera Fils-Aime, Genesis Rocha, Cian Richardson, Ann-Marsha Alexis, Aroob Ahmad, Mojiba Zakir

Stand & Deliver Site: Science Park High School, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Erase the Waste”
Project Summary: Through the Nature Nurturers team’s Erase the Waste service project, the Science Park High School community became more conscious of the effects of their behaviors on polluting the environment. The Nature Nurturers team implemented a social experiment which consisted of the Science Park community witnessing the Nature Nurturers team littering in the school. They then recorded the reactions of onlookers. They decided to “be the change” by traveling to Newark’s downtown area and picking up garbage from the streets near City Hall. All aspects were documented in a video which was presented as part of their All-Stars presentation.
Workshop Leader: Ana Serro
Student Team: Maite Rodriguez, Chidimma Enekebe, Jamie Morales, Akiel Morris, Andre Williams, Louis Fernandez, Diana Salinas, Maisha Manzoor, Katya Lijo, Sofia Cabodeira, Wendy Yupa, Jonathan Cueva, Maryum Bhatti, Sara Shah, Amlex Bencosme, Erika Dominguez, Ivy Robalino, Gonzalo Secarra, Cindy Osei, David Asafu-Adjaye
Stand & Deliver Site: United Vailsburg Service Organization (UVSO) Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Food Fighters”
Project Summary: Based on personal observations and research, The Food Fighters Team knows that there are people in their city who are homeless, in crisis, and hungry every day. They decided to “be the change” by preparing home cooked meals and “survival bags” containing such items as fresh fruit, granola bars, hand sanitizer, socks, tissues, and personal care items. The Food Fighters Team distributed the meals and survival bags to 25 homeless people who spontaneously gathered around them at Penn Station in Newark, NJ.
Workshop Leader: Madinah El’Amin
Student Team: Di’Ante Barr, Nigel Brown, Katirah Reed, Samaya Downey, Marquetta Walker, Marquely Provilon, Tabitha Pierre, Isaiah Vallesquez, Zachir Tomlin, Rose Pierre, Tashnie Julien, Nya Harris

Stand & Deliver Site: University High School, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “Paying it Forward”
Project Summary: The Brotherhood Team decided to implement their school’s motto, “Paying it Forward” by performing acts of kindness around their school while challenging others to do the same. They created a video and then made presentations in two eighth grade classes. They then reached the entire student body at grade level convocations. They presented their project idea to the Stand & Deliver community via original poetry at the All Stars Symposium.
Workshop Leader: Susan Ruesta
Student Team: Geordan Childs, Jeffrie Ortiz, Montell Graham, Christopher Flounoy

Stand & Deliver Site: West Side High School, Newark, NJ

Project Title: “We Wear the Mask”
Project Summary: The Mask Brigade Team used Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear the Mask” as a literary basis for discussion about how people, and teens in particular, sometimes “wear a mask” to hide true feelings. The Mask Brigade hosted a group of approximately 50 students and staff who participated in various exercises aimed at discussing the hidden true feelings that teens have. Students were given tokens of appreciation from the Mask Brigade for participating in the session and sharing their feelings.
Workshop Leader: Keshia Green Site coordinator: Diane Johnson
Student Team: Elijah Davis, Akua Abrati, Lakiesha Bright, Altis Cheatham, Saffire Allen-Scruggs, Adewumi Aderbridge, Lionetta Pioneys, Michael Malachi, Chaminique Downey