Social Advocacy Topic: Expanding volunteer opportunities for students of color on the Fitzsimons Medical Campus
“A social issue that I have noticed in my community is the lack of representation of the surrounding community at the Children’s Hospital and CU Health hospitals. I myself am a volunteer at the children’s hospital and I am the only volunteer (that I have seen) from Aurora Central. Yes, the school has a partnership with the hospital, but it is only a few kids that get the privilege to participate in this partnership. In order to make that connection with the hospital, you have to be in certain courses that allow kids to explore medicine. The other kids at school don’t get to experience anything in the medical field. If the kids at school were more aware of the opportunities and the hospital became more involved in our community it would benefit both parties.”
JoseJeres
Social Advocacy Topic: Homelessness awareness for high school students
“The social issue that I’ve seen is homelessness as a teen. I was living out of my car for a while and it seemed like there were no outlets for me. There wasn’t a place that I could go to get help that was easily accessible or close by. I scraped by thankfully due to some support I received from family members.But I also understand that my situation isn’t the same as others. It’s because of this that I wish to address this social issue.”
KayleeGonzalez
Social Advocacy Topic: Gun violence awareness and safety advocacy
“Gun violence is a social issue that can’t be ignored. Its impact to the community is something society shouldn’t ignore or be desensitized to. If support systems are implemented in schools, then students can grow up not having to experience violent situations due to guns. These systems can be comprised of more mental health awareness and aid, more personalized relations with teachers or staff with students, and after school programs that serve as a type of outlet, providing students with a safe space. This diverges the possibility of them turning to violence because they will be more in tune with their mental health and themselves.”
Kevin
Social Advocacy Topic: Bullying awareness for high school students
“In a world where everyone undergoes some sort of pain, whether it’s physical or mental, whether it may be early or late in life, everyone has experienced some sort of bullying. Sometimes people are blind and don’t see it as a problem because it occurs everywhere, but it’s the fact that it occurs everywhere that we need to put a stop to it. This sort of experience can hurt people very differently. But all in all, it eventually leads to depression and the mentality of the victim to turn against them and hurt themselves. These types of situations are results from bullying. We live in a world where there is lack of respect and understanding of one another. At least everyone has experienced this sort of pain, and when I mean everyone, I’m also included. I want to address bullying at Aurora Central as a social issue because I’ve been a victim of bullying and I know the emotions that run through a person’s mind when they are treated less than everyone else. As my vision, I want everyone to live a life without the fear of walking outside their door and thinking they might get hurt.”
Laura
Social Advocacy Topic: Suicide awareness for high school students
“Suicide is not a light subject to address, but it must be addressed. Imagine someone taking their life because they didn’t have anyone to talk to, or at least so they thought. I want students at my school to know that we are going to get through this together and we will all walk across that graduation stage proud and strong. We will have a bright future with the people that loved and cared about us. To prevent suicide, we can start by creating suicide prevention posters and also with that begin to put positive messages around the school where kids will most likely look so they can know they are loved and that if they need help, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for it. Whether conversations about suicide happen with a professional or someone students really trust, there are several actions that can help students feel better about a lot of things.”
PraislynAndrew
Social Advocacy Topic: Homelessness awareness for female and teen populations
“Homelessness is a very big issue that has noticeably become bigger over the years. More and more people are laid out under trees in public parks, outside libraries, and even local stores like Walmart just trying to find a place they can consider ‘home’. Being homeless is not even half the issue though. I would like to call attention to homeless families, women who can’t access their feminine needs, and teen homelessness which is an issue that gets overlooked within schools.”
Meet Our Change Agents
Aurora Central High School Cohort – 2018-19
Genesis
Social Advocacy Topic: Expanding volunteer opportunities for students of color on the Fitzsimons Medical Campus
“A social issue that I have noticed in my community is the lack of representation of the surrounding community at the Children’s Hospital and CU Health hospitals. I myself am a volunteer at the children’s hospital and I am the only volunteer (that I have seen) from Aurora Central. Yes, the school has a partnership with the hospital, but it is only a few kids that get the privilege to participate in this partnership. In order to make that connection with the hospital, you have to be in certain courses that allow kids to explore medicine. The other kids at school don’t get to experience anything in the medical field. If the kids at school were more aware of the opportunities and the hospital became more involved in our community it would benefit both parties.”
Jose Jeres
Social Advocacy Topic: Homelessness awareness for high school students
“The social issue that I’ve seen is homelessness as a teen. I was living out of my car for a while and it seemed like there were no outlets for me. There wasn’t a place that I could go to get help that was easily accessible or close by. I scraped by thankfully due to some support I received from family members.But I also understand that my situation isn’t the same as others. It’s because of this that I wish to address this social issue.”
Kaylee Gonzalez
Social Advocacy Topic: Gun violence awareness and safety advocacy
“Gun violence is a social issue that can’t be ignored. Its impact to the community is something society shouldn’t ignore or be desensitized to. If support systems are implemented in schools, then students can grow up not having to experience violent situations due to guns. These systems can be comprised of more mental health awareness and aid, more personalized relations with teachers or staff with students, and after school programs that serve as a type of outlet, providing students with a safe space. This diverges the possibility of them turning to violence because they will be more in tune with their mental health and themselves.”
Kevin
Social Advocacy Topic: Bullying awareness for high school students
“In a world where everyone undergoes some sort of pain, whether it’s physical or mental, whether it may be early or late in life, everyone has experienced some sort of bullying. Sometimes people are blind and don’t see it as a problem because it occurs everywhere, but it’s the fact that it occurs everywhere that we need to put a stop to it. This sort of experience can hurt people very differently. But all in all, it eventually leads to depression and the mentality of the victim to turn against them and hurt themselves. These types of situations are results from bullying. We live in a world where there is lack of respect and understanding of one another. At least everyone has experienced this sort of pain, and when I mean everyone, I’m also included. I want to address bullying at Aurora Central as a social issue because I’ve been a victim of bullying and I know the emotions that run through a person’s mind when they are treated less than everyone else. As my vision, I want everyone to live a life without the fear of walking outside their door and thinking they might get hurt.”
Laura
Social Advocacy Topic: Suicide awareness for high school students
“Suicide is not a light subject to address, but it must be addressed. Imagine someone taking their life because they didn’t have anyone to talk to, or at least so they thought. I want students at my school to know that we are going to get through this together and we will all walk across that graduation stage proud and strong. We will have a bright future with the people that loved and cared about us. To prevent suicide, we can start by creating suicide prevention posters and also with that begin to put positive messages around the school where kids will most likely look so they can know they are loved and that if they need help, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for it. Whether conversations about suicide happen with a professional or someone students really trust, there are several actions that can help students feel better about a lot of things.”
Praislyn Andrew
Social Advocacy Topic: Homelessness awareness for female and teen populations
“Homelessness is a very big issue that has noticeably become bigger over the years. More and more people are laid out under trees in public parks, outside libraries, and even local stores like Walmart just trying to find a place they can consider ‘home’. Being homeless is not even half the issue though. I would like to call attention to homeless families, women who can’t access their feminine needs, and teen homelessness which is an issue that gets overlooked within schools.”