YOUR voice is YOUR power! You're an
activist, and you know you're learning! Around the world people are
learning through activism and grabbing hold of learning and owning what they
know.
And by the way - you probably aren't
already doing this. Activist Learning requires several important
elements, and most groups don't have them all.
But you can, and that's why we offer these examples.
Young People
Young people always learn through activism.
By working with friends and partnering with adult allies, young people are
developing powerful, effective Activist Learning projects. The
following are stories of young people learning through activism (click on
the heading for the link):
-
Youth Act! Students Testify on Mayor's Budget - Read this story from
2000 about young people in Washington DC who learned about homeless issues
and advocated to the city's Mayor for change.
-
Global Uprising: Stories of a New Generation of Activists - Read
excerpts from this exciting book that documents young activists work
today. The stories on this page include the personal narratives of young
people standing up for peace, the environment, and for social justice.
-
Talk to Us. Listen. Take Us Seriously.
- Eighteen young people from
small communities across America—from the Mississippi Delta to Vermont’s
Northeast Kingdom, the Navajo Nation to the northern California
coast—speak about their efforts to promote youth leadership and voice in
their schools and communities. They recount their successes while offering
pointed advice on ways adults can partner more effectively with kids.
YOU can get inspired, get informed, get active and
learn something! The following websites offer great information to
promote young people taking action - all you've got to do is make something of it!
You can do that with Activist Learning.
Adults
Learning doesn't stop when we grow older.
As adults get older, they sometimes talk about "learning a lot" through
activism, but they never talk about what they've learned! Activist
Learning helps adults learn through the process of activism, and gives
adults a powerful tool to use. Check out these examples of Activist
Learning for adults (click on the heading for the link):
-
A Hard Road to Learn - After community groups campaigned
vigorously against a six-lane inner city freeway in Brisbane,
Australia, the City Council voted to approve construction regardless.
Read about the new networks they developed, as well as the political
acumen and advocacy skills they acquired. While the immediate
objective in this campaign, stopping the road, was not achieved,
important long-term objectives were realised and valued.
-
Student Environmental Action Coalition - Some people in SEAC
have found that a formal college education pulls them in a direction
that does not correspond well with their social/political values. If
you are wondering whether college is right for you, here are a few
things you might want to consider.
-
From Personal Activism to Public Advocacy - In her quest to
help her dyslexic son, Betsy Ramsey found a calling for all LD kids.
Discover what she learned along the way.
So these groups offer a
start down the road to helping you envision your Activist Learning
experience. What's next? Check out the
Elements of Activist Learning for more
details.
