Year Recap: A visual snapshot of our year

Visiting the Hahamongna Nursery with the managing director of the Arroyo Seco Foundation, Tim Brick, learning about native plants to the area.

Taking a tour with Chicano artist Wayne Healy through Lincoln Heights visiting murals significant to social justice movements in Los Angeles.

Visiting Insight Treatment learning about their programs supporting teens and their families suffering mental health and addiction issues.

Discussing example case files with Judge P. Tamu Nama, of Los Angeles County's Superior Court.

Talking with Celine Kuklowsky of the Co-op Lab about how the worker-owned business model is a way of addressing wealth inequality.

Visiting the Pasadena Central Library to check out books on the GMO debate.

Discussing unique approaches to addressing anxiety and depression amongst teens with Kaitlin Dull of the Relational Center.

Speaking with the Executive Director of Shepherd's Door about the programs, education, and services their offer for survivors of domestic abuse.

Talking with Ricky Bluthenthal, PhD, Professor of Preventive Medicine at USC talking describing his research on needle exchange programs for substance users.

Measuring and cutting cardboard to prototype a modular bookshelf.

Creating measurements for a cardboard bookshelf prototype to test ideas related to a "decentralized library."

As all students get ready to present their work from the Social Innovation Program tomorrow, we'd like to provide a photo update of what we've been up to this year. 

Since December, 9th and 10th graders have been working in groups of about ten students on topics such as, how the justice system treats youth, education around the GMO debate, the influence of media in teen mental health, how public art affects social change, strategies for treating domestic abuse, the implementation of the One Arroyo project, perceptions of those affected by substance abuse, and how to address the income gap. 

11th graders have been working on independent Impact Projects addressing a variety of social and environmental issues. Students have arranged conversations with an aquarist at the Aquarium of the Pacific to talk about the practice of shark finning; they have visited with board members of Pasadena's Union Station Homeless Services; and they have interviewed veterinarians about the puppy mill industry.