“Power, Privilege, & the Purse” was an integrated project that included all 11th grade students. For approximately two months, we researched finances, loans, wealth inequalities, educational inequalities, and past and present perspectives on power and privilege. We created personal financial plans, researched the pros and cons of different types of loans, and created graphs and infographics to represent statistics that we learned. Additionally, we learned about the Jim Crow era and the “New Jim Crow” and formed opinions about slavery, segregation, and discrimination. We spent weeks discussing different types of inequity in the U.S. by watching documentaries, reading reports, and researching. We studied education, criminal justice, wealth inequality, gender inequality, immigration, and more. While preparing for exhibition, we were split into groups that studied specific topics about inequality in the U.S., compiled deep research on our topics, and wrote position papers. We worked as a grade to plan a symposium to display our learning through conversation and discourse. Students raised funds, planned lighting and design, organized rooms, contacted guest panelists, and collected donations for the symposium. On November 19, 2015, “Mind the Gap” was held at the Vista Community Clinic and gathered parents, families, and community members together to discuss present issues in our society. It raised awareness, engaged thought, and encouraged open and respectful conversation.
Click below to view my work from this project:
Click below to view my work from this project: