Vision Quilt received a grant from LRNG, the National Writing Project, and John Legend's Show Me Campaign to create a digital toolkit for educators and youth entitled "Creating Visionaries, Storytellers and Community Activists Addressing Gun Violence " (VSA). This toolkit is available FREE to schools, community centers and individuals. Please contact us for details. In order to support you, please fill out this Google Form.
Background: VSA grew out of a direct request from students at Lighthouse Community Charter School to focus an expedition on gun violence, after one of their former students lost his life to gun violence. The resulting program is an interdisciplinary, production-centered endeavor that allows youth to focus on an interest-powered issue while strengthening community relationships and gaining valuable real-world experience through connected learning. The curriculum is based on learning standards and building social-emotional competencies. As a result, students feel empowered to make positive change in their families and community.
Background: VSA grew out of a direct request from students at Lighthouse Community Charter School to focus an expedition on gun violence, after one of their former students lost his life to gun violence. The resulting program is an interdisciplinary, production-centered endeavor that allows youth to focus on an interest-powered issue while strengthening community relationships and gaining valuable real-world experience through connected learning. The curriculum is based on learning standards and building social-emotional competencies. As a result, students feel empowered to make positive change in their families and community.
VSA was originally designed for middle school students, grades 7 and 8. However, modules can be adapted to high school level classes including government, English, art, Restorative Justice classes, and Capstone projects.
The VSA curriculum features academic study through Humanities and Math classes; an innovative art program in conjunction with the nonprofit Vision Quilt; and a youth-led community exhibition that engages students’ peers, families, and the wider community in meaningful ways.
Throughout the program, students document their work via self-selected media formats including video, podcasts, musical performances, storytelling, and Spoken Word. All students make Vision Quilt panels that become part of the national Vision Quilt Virtual Quilt.
Impact: During the four years of this program, students reported this impact:
88% increased knowledge about gun violence and its causes
93% increased their ability to listen to other people’s ideas about gun violence
92% are more likely to take action to intervene when someone is being bullied or hurt
91% stated their intention to prevent gun violence within their family, school or community
95% learned how art, poetry, music and/or video can impact change
See these three short videos to hear student, school and community testimonials:
The VSA curriculum features academic study through Humanities and Math classes; an innovative art program in conjunction with the nonprofit Vision Quilt; and a youth-led community exhibition that engages students’ peers, families, and the wider community in meaningful ways.
Throughout the program, students document their work via self-selected media formats including video, podcasts, musical performances, storytelling, and Spoken Word. All students make Vision Quilt panels that become part of the national Vision Quilt Virtual Quilt.
Impact: During the four years of this program, students reported this impact:
88% increased knowledge about gun violence and its causes
93% increased their ability to listen to other people’s ideas about gun violence
92% are more likely to take action to intervene when someone is being bullied or hurt
91% stated their intention to prevent gun violence within their family, school or community
95% learned how art, poetry, music and/or video can impact change
See these three short videos to hear student, school and community testimonials:
The trauma-informed curriculum is free for educators, community centers and museums to use and/or adopt to their students and communities nationwide. We believe this curriculum is a key solution to the escalation of gun violence in our country and to addressing the trauma youth, teachers and families are experiencing all too frequently.
Please explore the toolkit and its hyperlinks at your leisure: https://lcps.exposure.co/addressing-gun-violence-toolkit?source=share-lcps
See a photograph of the Table of Contents below. The Expedition Planner details impact goals, materials, and state standards.
Here is the link to a recent article about the AGV curriculum: https://oaklandside.org/2022/06/17/gun-violence-curriculum-oakland-teachers-vision-quilt/
Please fill out this Google Form so we can stay in touch with you and support your adoption of this curriculum into your school and community.
Please explore the toolkit and its hyperlinks at your leisure: https://lcps.exposure.co/addressing-gun-violence-toolkit?source=share-lcps
See a photograph of the Table of Contents below. The Expedition Planner details impact goals, materials, and state standards.
Here is the link to a recent article about the AGV curriculum: https://oaklandside.org/2022/06/17/gun-violence-curriculum-oakland-teachers-vision-quilt/
Please fill out this Google Form so we can stay in touch with you and support your adoption of this curriculum into your school and community.
