The Change Experiment is an initiative of Dreams Academy to offer a platform for high school students of different backgrounds and races, to use their voice to create change, especially in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This idea stemmed from conversations held during the Akron Community Foundation’s “On The Table” event, where friends, acquaintances and other invited guests gather to discuss chosen topics, which in 2019, Dreams Academy hosted a conversation on Race.
We found that this topic is one that garners much attention among adults. We see conferences, conventions and even corporations focused on these discussions. Our question was has anyone considered conversations surrounding race with youth? Adults already have shaped perceptions and opinions, and for many reasons, but what if we got to young people early enough where we could show them to think critically and begin to shape thoughts and ideas about race earlier instead of later, what would that look like?
The Change Experiment has begun and we are still accepting new students! Applicants must be a junior in high school and reside in Summit County. We meet on Monday Evenings for 8 sessions at varying locations and again for another 8 sessions in the fall of 2022. The curriculum has been designed by Disrupter University which is led by Dr. Erica Glover and Kenneth Smith, who will also serve as lead facilitators. They have created a plan that uses Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) to discuss themes and topics shown in the curriculum outline. The Spring Semester will focus on becoming aware of and seasoned learners of these topics. Fall Semester will focus on the students’ action steps as they will graduate high school and begin their next stages of life.
We are planning incentives for the students in the cohort in the form of scholarship and/or other possibilities. In-person sessions will observe all CDC guidelines in regard to distancing and masks. For further information, please send an email to [email protected]
Spring Curriculum
