| New Dates Set for 2008-2009 School Year!
Beth Tfiloh and St. Francis Academy:
10th Grade: November 18th 2008
January 7th 2009
March 17th 2009
May 19th 2009
11th Grade: October 30th 2008
February 17th 2009
Cardin
10th Grade: October 23rd 2008
April 22nd 2009
11th Grade: December 3rd 2008
May 21st 2009
12th Grade: October 29th 2008
March 18th 2009
THE CALVIN W. BURNETT YOUTH INITIATIVE:
When the BLEWS approached its 20th year, BLEWS members determined that their efforts must expand. The BLEWS wanted to forge a new frontier in inter-group relations. We wanted to build on past experiences to create a new vision for the future. Throughout its history, the BLEWS has spoken to youth and sponsored youth programs, including the first Teen Summit in 1997, which brought together more than 300 students throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area. It was out of this summit that a larger youth initiative was launched. Since its launch in 1999, the BLEWS Youth Initiative has brought together over 2,000 teens from the two communities for intensive programming, education and community building. In 2003, the program was renamed the Calvin W. Burnett Youth Initiative in honor of our distinguished past president who has dedicated his life to helping young people.
Just some of the activities included in the Youth Initiative:
First Encounters, which provides broad-based exposure to each others' history, cultural sensitivities and concerns. The teens engage in a whole day of learning about each others' histories and culture in a safe and fun-filled environment. This is done through faciliated discussions, games and other activities that utilize art mediums ranging from poetry to dance to painting.
Teen Policy Forums involve students who have already participated in First Encounters and express interest in the forums. They receive briefing papers on three to five City, regional or State policy issues in advance of the forum. At the forum, they hear guest speakers; engage in facilitated small group discussions and priority setting exercises; and then present their group's positions and proposals to the entire forum.
Community Service Projects are undertaken as a part of the Youth Initiative. After students engage in a First Encounters program, one of the many follow-up programs is performing community service in their communities. Activities have included cleaning up a community garden and an outreach to the Black and Jewish elderly event.
The Freedom Seder is a dinner celebration that combines elements of the traditional Jewish Passover meal with an African-American Overcome observance celebrating the overcoming of slavery and oppression. Led by a rabbi and a minister, this highly participatory experience includes readings and singing.
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