City Council Members Respond to Elev8 Baltimore Students’ Concerns
Elev8 students at Dr. Rayner Browne Academy in Baltimore are playing an active in role in community advocacy. Eight students from Browne Academy spent part of their first day of school discussing community issues and efforts for improvement with Baltimore City Council President Bernard C. "Jack" Young and Councilman Warren Branch. This display of civic engagement and advocacy was initiated by a summer letter writing campaign that student's participated in. In their letters to Councilman Branch, students outlined the need for both school and community improvements. Student Jawayne Johnson spoke to school facilities. "I want better lockers in school. I want better playgrounds. I want better textbooks," he asked. Several students emphasized the need for community recreational facilities and especially a public pool. "I think we should have more pools, closer skating rinks, a better community, more parks, no guns, camp programs, no animals hanging on the street...no people living on the streets that have vacant houses," said student Kayliah Mills.
Council President Young and Councilman Branch congratulated the middle grades students for getting involved in the community. "You all are citizens of Baltimore too, and you have every right to email us or call us with your questions and concerns," Council President Young told the group. Elev8 supports increased government investment in under-resourced neighborhoods and schools in urban, rural and Native American communities. Civic engagement with members of the community to identify local problems, create solutions, and evaluate the effectiveness of the programs that emerge is central to Elev8. Elev8 brings together students, parents, community-based organizations, schools, government, philanthropy, business, national advocacy groups and service organizations to advocate for change. To read additional coverage from the Baltimore Sun, click here. |
Adolescents with access to school-based health care were 10 times more likely to make a mental health or substance abuse visit than those who were enrolled in a managed care system (HMO) but lacked a school-based facility.
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