Sub/Urban Justice Fall Action Projects span a range of topics, comunities, and interests. Participants in SJS '08 split into different groups based on community affinities, and determined what issue were negatively impacting their community around social justice. Then they devised an action plan, and put it into effect. Examples include JPK, SJ-Needham, and the Speak Up! Project.

Sub/Urban Justice "JPK"

One group of youth found commonality in their neighborhood of Jamaica Plain. This group decided the two major problems facing their community were intensive segregation and youth violence. They determined that bringing together a diverse group of peers from the neighborhood around these issues was a critical piece of action. They recruited a group of teens and launched a weekly teen-led social justice program in the fall of '08. They meet Sunday from 2-5, and invite other area teens to join them! You can find more information on their Facebook group: Sub/Urban Justice JPK.

Sub/Urban Justice "Needham"

Realizing that their peers were rarely engaged in thinking about meaningful issues, the group in Needham decided to spark interest and excitement to overcome the apathy and ignorance that remains a barrier in their suburban community. After some organizing, planning, and outreach, they hosted their first house party in November of 2008. Thirty young people gathered to debate topics like "The Civil Rights Movement ended racism" and "The government should provide housing and employment to all citizens." The response from their peers was overwhelming "This conversation was so important..." "I wish we did this at my school." "I will definitely be back." Join their Facebook group or send an email to find out when the next meeting will be.

Speak Up! Project

This group of young women from various Boston area independent schools decided the central and unnamed problem facing their various schools was the specter of racism. They decided that starting an honest and open conversation was crucial to making substantive changes. So they've started gathering stories about race, culture, and racism at area schools, to be compiled into a book. In the spring of '09 they will be offering workshops at area high schools using their anthology as a conversation starter and reference guide. They intend more than conversation though, they intend to challenge unaddressed racism.

“I believe the Speak Up! Project has a strong potential to play a vital role in academic discourse within our schools. This is an opportunity presented to empower students to freely express themselves on a systemic oppression such as racism.”                                                                           Blen Girum