Courageous Conversations about social justice are an Everyday SEL practice. These prompts can be used to facilitate conversations that aim to build empathy and connection by inviting participants to speak and listen from the heart. Courageous Conversations take place after a stimulus, such as a video or image, is introduced. A stimulus is used to build background and stimulate thinking and discussion.
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These Service Sparks guides provide directions for generous actions that encourage youth voice and promote the common good. Each project includes step-by-step instructions.
Biographical Highlights
In this activity participants experience the appreciative inquiry approach of “looking at the good stuff in their organization and/or community.” Youth will look at organizations and communities as ‘half-full’ with potential, rather than ‘half-empty.’
In this story, Charles Dickens tackles the meaning of Christmas and the impact of greed on the individual and on the community. Originally published in 1843, "A Christmas Carol" has remained popular throughout the years.
This activity prompts young people to think and speak critically with their peers about a real-world topic. They consider how the topic applies to them and how it might impact others. During this activity, youth share their opinions, debate their positions, and sometimes even change sides as their opinions shift to accommodate new information or other viewpoints. This activity introduces young people to the concepts of bias and stereotypes by discussing how the judgments we make can be very damaging.
Young people create a Public Service Announcement in order to inform people about an issue and challenge them to take action in order to make a difference. This activity guides them to select an issue, research ways to address the issue, and make a call to action.
Ignite meaningful action that lights up the world through "Service Sparks" youth projects! Have fun making creative art from natural or recycled items. Give the art to someone to brighten their day.
A story of cultural identity and belonging, Firekeeper's Daughter is suspenseful and smart. When Daunis loses someone close to her, she becomes deeply engaged in an FBI investigation of a drug that is tearing the Northern Michigan community apart.
Ignite meaningful action that lights up the world through "Service Sparks" youth projects! Do you have a culturally diverse library? Use a spreadsheet to analyze and discuss the cultural representation of a library's collection. Look for gaps and make a proposal to grow the diversity of the books and challenge yourself and others to learn about people and the world from different perspectives.