— ETHS Student at conclusion of project, 2003
This is an archival site for a project that was done nine years ago - pre-Obama, pre YouTube and social media revolution - but still as one predicated on principles of participatory media, anti-racism curriculum and dialogical pedagogy. Resolutions took place in 2003 and was funded by a grant from Northwestern University's Education and Social Policy Dept. The project was led by myself, Mindy Faber (ETHS) and Stephen Murphy (New Trier).
As a new high school teacher at Evanston, it was curious to hear the Superintendent then refer to New Trier as the "School to the North" and even more disturbing to have my students hiss at me when i told them i had mentored New Trier students.
Coming from Video Machete, a community media education center founded on education for liberation pedagogy (Paulo Freire), i had been involved in a similar project that brought youth of color in conversation with police. I also long admired the work of Inigo Manglano-Ovalle and the work he did with Street-Level Youth Media called Neutral Ground about using video to build dialogue among rival gang members.
In resurrecting this project for this Tumblr, I am compelled by the following questions:
1) Do race and class based rivalries still exist between high schools?
2) Has social media created more opportunities for young people to get to know each other across geographic boundaries?
3) How can online video dialogues in virtual spaces be fostered between students at rival schools using new social media tools?
