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Action Fund
What others have done with the Action Fund...
Mural de Esperanza -
Mural of Hope This project grew out of one Mac
student’s
volunteer work with East Side Neighborhood Development Program and the
domestic abuse program of Casa de Esperanza. Youth from an after school
program created drawings based on group discussions about their Latino
identity and the individual drawings were combined into one large
collage. The collage was transferred to a wall in Plaza Latina (a
market housing Latino-owned businesses). Mac volunteers worked with the
youth five times, teaching them how to transform their thoughts and
interests into art and non-violent forms of expression in general. The
supplies were paid for through the Action Fund.
Mounds Park
Community Garden Three Mac students helped create a Community
Garden at Mounds Park Elementary school. They used the money to buy
supplies to get urban kids involved in gardening, cooking, and art
projects that teach the children about the environment. One student
said, “The best and coolest things about the program was that
older
kids who usually avoided any type of organized activities took on
leadership positions to help the younger kids.”
Immigrant Film Project
One student created a 30-minute film that explores individual and
community responses to the entrance of new immigrant populations into
local communities. Churches, schools, and other organizations use the
film to prompt discussion of feelings, stereotypes, and fears that play
into the way communities respond to new immigrants.
Sabathani Tutor/Mentors
Girls Program Three Macalester women who mentor at Sabathani
Horizon’s Youth Program took a group of preteen and teenage inner
city
girls to a retreat center that uses rope courses and other experiential
activities to help the girls develop leadership skills, learn group
cooperation, and have fun in a wooded location. The Mac students paid
for the ropes course and transportation through the Action Fund.
Hmong Legislative
Project This project involved bringing legislators together
with Hmong ESL students to encourage new immigrants to be civically
involved and to educate Senators and Representatives about concerns of
these community members. The project included letter writing to
encourage literacy and clarifying of the issues, a field trip to the
State Capitol, and a trip to Hmong American Partnership by lawmakers.
Students wrote an article for the Mac Weekly to educate the
campus about the project
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