Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools

Rethink's program challenges middle school youth to step fully into their power as leaders for today as well as tomorrow. Specifically, we guild students through a process that helps them: -Identify areas for improvement within individual schools and the school system as a whole. -Dream big dreams for change; then think critically about solutions. -Act to make solutions a reality. -Understand that leadership means power among peers, not power over them. We host a free summer program in which students come together for 6 weeks to tackle a specific issue in their schools (past topics have included bathrooms and school food/cafeterias). We work with adult experts- such as chefs, lawyers, community organizers, artist and architects- to devise innovative solutions. The summer culminates in a news conference where the youth present their ideas to school officials and ask for a commitment to change.