New Start Project Highlights in 2005

• Inter-School Garden Project
• Exterior Signage Project
• Laptops, Camera, Action

Laptops, Camera, Action

New Start's Summer Program allowed 35 youth to participate in a five-week media and video production workshop called Youth Media Institute (YMI). Students were introduced to the various facets of media and creative writing. Discussions, handouts and videos presented lessons on media literacy and understanding how media plays a role in American society, media justice and the importance of creating media that reflects one's own stories, histories, cultures and issues, and finally media production and utilizing technology to produce movies and presentations.

The crux of the program focused on students creating mini-movies and documentaries on topics such as drug usage, youth employment, high school dropouts and White Center history. The youth had access to brand-new Macintosh iBook G4 laptops and camcorders purchased with a grant from Boeing Charities. Incorporating their knowledge of writing, media production and digital editing, students produced these movies in less than a month, stamping their own creativity and hard work. The program culminated in a community premiere entitled, "Youth Out Loud," held at Cascade Middle School.

Inter-School Garden Project

Students from New Start’s GED program participated in a garden project with sixth graders from nearby Salmon Creek Elementary. The elementary students created a mock city council for the fictional City of Salmon Creek. The mock council drew up a request for proposal (RFP) for a garden to be constructed in the courtyard of Salmon Creek Elementary. The garden specifications call for the construction of several raised garden beds, gravel pathways, wooden benches and stepping stones. The city council members came to New Start to present their RFP to the GED students (otherwise known as “New Start Helping Hands” for this exercise). The GED students expressed serious interest in the proposal, and subsequently won approval from the city council to construct the garden. GED youth drew up plans, a budget and details for their proposal to present to the Salmon Creek students for review.

After their proposal was approved, GED youth bought supplies went to work; technical training and supervision was provided by a professional landscape contractor who volunteered his time. In the middle of construction, the elementary students had an opportunity to formally review the progress and see if the results were in alignment with the required specifications. Corrections and adjustments were made as needed. New Start youth worked with enthusiasm to complete the garden. They utilize newly learned construction skills to bring the project to life. Their teamwork and workplace skills were also enhanced by this experience. The professional contractor who supervised solicited job applications from the GED youth for actual landscaping jobs.

New Start’s young men’s group and young women’s group each designed and painted exterior signs promoting New Start and its services. Staff reviewed the initial drawings and made suggestions. Upon final approval by staff both groups painted their design, consisting of text and images, then installed them outside the New Start offices.

Find out more about New Start here.

Updated: July 20, 2007

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