Students at South High School, STRIVE Preparatory School, and Cole Elementary school work with college students at the University of Denver through the school's Public Achievement Program. Public Achievement is a student empowerment program that pairs younger students with college students who mentor and support them in creating yearlong community projects. While college students are there to assist the younger students, the projects that Public Achievement students build are self-identified and self-led. Building these community projects empowers students to understand that there is a space for them to make positive change in the community.
Students from South High School are working on projects centered on racial discrimination this year. Some students are focusing on sharing stories through the media, and have created a “Humans of Denver South High School” Facebook page to share people’s experiences with discrimination in their community. Students are also working on a documentary to address this topic and hope to post it on their page when they are finished. Like their Facebook page here to follow their efforts and learn more about their project.
Other students through University of Denver’s Public Achievement program are working on projects addressing hunger and restorative justice in their schools. To learn more about these students and their projects, download their Public Achievement Newsletter here.
EPOG will post any upcoming Public Achievement events so that our readers can support local students in the Denver community.