Smithsonian: Democracy in Dialogue Program

Innovation Academy has partnered with the Smithsonian Institute’s Democracy in Dialogue and Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. to work on a project we created called Soul Purpose:  The Good Trouble Project.  Our guiding question is: How can individuals walk in the path of Good Trouble and positively impact their community?  We will be examining the Civil Rights movement both in Atlanta and in DC, with students examining the similarities and differences in their communities.  So far this year, we have done the following:

1. Atlanta and DC City overviews:  Students will use the city overviews they created to see similarities and differences between the two cities.  The goal of the yearlong collaboration is to have the students meet in Atlanta or DC in order to create Good Trouble.  We will need to fundraise over $40,000, so it might be a challenge to take the trip this year. 
2. Bridge Builder Buddies:  Students were thoughtfully paired with a partner in the other city.  They will work together to determine the Good Trouble they would like to work on in their communities.
3. Voter Registration drive in collaboration with Fulton County and the League of Women Voters.  We registered 65 new voters! We will be working with Fulton County to take a field trip to the local library to cast a first in the next election.
4. Young John Lewis musical and collaboration with Teaching Museum North:  Our students are going to use their voice to help create curriculum to help make the information from the musical accessible to students in Fulton County Schools.  We will be meeting with the representative of the Teaching Museum North at our next meeting.
5. Teaching Museum South: Untying the Knot:  I have been asked to be one of 12 teachers to collaborate with Fulton County Schools Teaching Museum South and the Library of Congress on a project called Untying the Knot.  The collaboration between Fulton County School and the Library of Congress is to create materials about the desegregation of Fulton County Schools.
6. Civil and Human Rights Museum:  In December, we are going to experience the newly updated Civil and Human Rights Museum.  We are planning on having Ms. Smith from the Teaching Museum North and a main actor from the Young John Lewis musical join us for the tour.  
7. Teach it Forward: In February or March, we are planning on teaching elementary students about the life of John Lewis and his idea of Good Trouble.  The interactive lesson will incorporate age-appropriate information about the Civil Rights Movement and John Lewis as an example of how one person can make a difference in the world.  We will have the students
8. Local Interviews: We are planning on students interviewing people that were either directly involved in the Civil Rights movement or impacted by the movement, using the example of John Lewis’ life to reflect on their legacy.  Students will present their findings and reflect on their legacy, or Good Trouble, at a public event in May.
9. Public Product:  Digital Scrapbook and Showcase Participation:   Innovation Academy and Dunbar will collaborate on a digital scrapbook of our Good Trouble.  We will participate in Showcase at Innovation Academy.