On the Road!

We'll post more from the road tomorrow, but for now, here is the trailer!


Pass it On - Trailer from The Pass It On Project on Vimeo.


The Pass it On Project from Kalim Armstrong on Vimeo.

Fundraiser and Sendoff Party!

http://www.gowanusstudio.org/upcoming.php

Join us on Saturday to help raise funds, see a preview of the documentary, and get a rad t-shirt designed and printed by the Pass It On students at The Gowanus Studio Space. The artists at the studio have been hugely generous with their time and resources. Come out and see what they've done with the kids!

6:30pm - screening of The Pass it On Project (work in progress)
8:00pm - adults' reception with beer from kelso of Brooklyn
*T-Shirts on sale all night! Shirts designed and printed by Pass It On students at The Gowanus Studio Space.

We Got Our Bus!

Huge thanks to everyone who donated. We were able to raise over $7500 for the bus, which triggered the matching funds from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. View the donors here: http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=280191.

Our trip will take place July 2-16.

On our itinerary are the following cities:

Greensboro, NC
Atlanta, GA
Selma, AL

Montgomery, AL

Birmingham, AL
Tupelo, MS
Clarksdale, MS
Memphis, TN
Nashville, TN
Washington, DC

The play-by-play on the Re-Activism trip

Let me just say that the trip was AWESOME!!!!! If you're new to our radical blog and have no idea what I'm talking about: On Saturday the group took the L train to Union Square to go to our Re-Activism trip. If you still have no idea what I'm talking about : the trip was a scavenger hunt in Manhattan where we had to split up in groups and find historical landmarks that are relevant to Civil Rights. That's just a short summary of what happened. I was lucky enough to attend( props to Ms. Bintz and Ms. Harris!!) and had a great time. My group was Niccolette, Paularah, Nayo, and my mom ( Go So random!!!) So we didn't win.( The Swagger Daggers won, by the way.) We had a great time regardless. My group went to Union Square and got free sodas, cookies, and hugs!!! It was amazing. Well I have to go because my computer is about to die. I hope you enjoyed my post!!! Check out the Re- Activism project!!!!

New York's Protest and Activism History

Yesterday, we played a game called Re: Activism that traces the history of activism and protest in New York City. Here are some pictures from the day. A post from the kids will be coming this week!

(Photo is of Tommy writing a Jane Jacobs quote at the site of a famous environmental battle at Washington Square Park)

Re:Activism NYC is a race through the history of riots, protests, and activism in New York City. Teams race the clock and test their puzzle-solving skills in sites throughout the city where echoes of the fight for justice and peace still ring. By visiting historic sites and searching for clues to the events that happened there, players will reactivate forgotten histories to engage social issues and struggles that were important then and continue to have resonance today. Activated by text messages from Re:Activism Central, teams engage in site-specific challenges and test their strategic thinking by choosing to focus on racing or puzzle-solving - or a combination of both - to win points and become the most active activists, winning the game.

Road Trip Route!

Here's the route for our July 2-16 road trip through the south. We are in the midst of planning and fundraising!

View Larger Map

Group photo with Soledad O'Brien and Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles

The Pass It On Project

The Pass it on Project, taking place in Brooklyn, NY, is a semester-long study of the American Civil Rights Movement, delving into the ideas of race, social justice, and youth empowerment. It is an experiment in creating a younger generation of honest witnesses, who when faced with injustice will feel compelled to act, and whose actions are strengthened by their own understanding of history. Through an in-depth study of the movement and race in America, the two teachers and fourteen eighth graders hope to create an environment of mutual reflection- each taking lessons from history as well as each other’s experiences. Throughout the project, the group will travel to study the movement in different places including Washington, DC, Philadelphia, and New York City. The course will culminate in July, when the fourteen students and two teachers will pile into a van for a road trip through the American South, visiting places of historical significance that students will select based upon their coursework. On this journey, both students and teachers will walk in the footsteps of history, as they reflect upon the legacy of racism and civil rights, and how each affects their lives today.

The Pass It On Project has caught the attention of two Brooklyn-based filmmakers, Kalim Armstrong and Melissa Nicolardi. Both are the children of educators, and Melissa is a former NYC public school teacher. Their film, The Pass It On Project, will document the journey taken by the students and teachers, explore the realities of race and power in the education system, and engage the viewer in an honest dialogue about difference and diversity today.