SEEING LIFE THROUGH A NEW LENSE
Augusta Richmond County CIS, Augusta, GA
Mary Crawford, Executive Director
Richmond County Solicitor Harold Jones, listens as students discuss their photographs.
Augusta/Richmond County CIS students are participating in a challenging and innovative after-school program: the “Our World” project. The program gives the at-risk students an opportunity to document their own experiences and environment through photography. Working with two local professional, students meet for a two-hour class to learn how to use digital cameras, frame shots, and upload their pictures to computers.
The photographers, Michael Johnson and Angel Cleary, volunteer their time to provide students an opportunity to create a new perspective for their young lives. Some students live in public housing projects, and have never been outside of the projects. Other individuals who volunteer their time with the students include Clinton Norman, who provides transportation to students who live farther away.
Nikon donated twenty digital cameras for the project, with the help of Frank Christian, and Harold Jones donated $1,000 for the cause. Putting the children behind the camera lenses has helped them learn how to work together as a team. Their work is featured in a local newspaper. As a result more parents are involved in their children’s education. Student photographs will be on display at the Morris Museum of Art.
cobb county high school students take action
Cobb County Performance Learning Center® , Marietta, GA
Ms. Jacquelyn Whitt, Academic Coordinator
The Performance Learning Centers® (PLCs) provide an option for high school students who are not fitting into the traditional school setting to succeed in school. All PLC students are required to participate in a service-learning project. The Cobb County PLC partnered with local businesses for their service-learning project and raised approximately $1,500 to provide services to the MUST Ministries, a homeless shelter. At the shelter, the students planned meals, developed a budget, prepared and served the meals, and cleaned up. The project was gratifying to the students who participated, and all agreed it helped them learn about teamwork, planning and leadership.