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.