Date: 2-6-12
City, State: Urbana, IL
Venue Name: Mixed Jr. High - High school age, Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center, Urbana, IL
Number of Attendees: 11 Students, 1 Teacher, 2 staff, 2 college interns
Volunteers involved: TheEditor
Pre-Event promotions: I made the offer to the teacher, who was about to start a unit on American history. She gladly accepted.
Promotional material handed out at event: None
Props used: A map and a white board.
Booth cost: $5.3 million. No, wait, that's what the taxpayers paid to build that building in 2000. It didn't cost me anything but the effort.
Good: The students, ages 13-17, most likely had never heard any of this history before. Most listened attentively; but as it was a "captive" audience, there were a few who probably didn't absorb much. I had an hour each with a group of 5 or 6; realistically, that's about as much attention as I was going to hold with this group. Some did ask some good questions.
The emphasis was on regular people who made big differences, such as Gage's wife, the folks who rowed Revere across the harbor, and Lamson stopping the resupply wagons. By the end, a few of them seemed to realize that the history was not about famous people, but about people.
These were students that will never see a firing line. As such, this was their only opportunity to hear The Story.
Bad: As this was held in a secure facility, I could not bring in any props.
Summary: Any instructor who can tell the History at an AS can tell the history in a school as a guest speaker. But you've got to ask; the teachers probably won't be beating down your door looking for you. Ask, and you shall receive... permission. Go for it!
The Editor
Great job!! A wonderful story about human kindness and generosity. You are an extraordinary individual. To think what a difference you might have on these young people. O0 O0 ~ Two Wolves
Well done!
Nice one! Let's have more of them!
O0 O0
Really interesting to hear about this. Another direction to look in. Good Job !!!!
Quote from: TheEditor on February 09, 2012, 10:44:48 PMThese were students that will never see a firing line. As such, this was their only opportunity to hear The Story.
This is my favorite part. There aren't enough thumbs up smilies on this board for this statement.
Who knows what new direction one of these young men may take? Nice job and thank you!