Track The Movement Summer 2019
On February 19th and 20th, 16 students from Grey Highlands Secondary School were selected to attend a Re:Action4Inclusion leadership workshop. At the workshop, students participated in creating a Community Profile of the culture of their school community. They were then asked to look at this culture through several lenses. For example, students were looking for social attitudes that exist, environmental characteristics that impact the student experience and also identified social issues and barriers that limit that experience. They also discussed resources and support systems, their school community’s assets that exist and how these assets can be utilized to overcome barriers to social inclusion.
On the last day of the workshop, students discussed what actions they could take to resolve issues they cared about, and made work plans for change projects that they could start in the school and community. Ashlyn Fairbanks sought out this workshop in an effort to engage students and help them feel prepared to take on leadership roles during their high school career with a consciousness for the experience of young people who have a disability.
Ashlyn and her peers also spearheaded a community-wide campaign called ‘Inclusion in Motion’ in the Grey-Bruce area. She’s calling on community members to share their stories in a youth-driven blog campaign targeted at creating a greater sense of community within the school and within the county. You can read or share your story on their website HERE.
As part of this campaign, Ashlyn and her team were supported by South East Grey Support Services to install art installations that created awareness about this campaign and their efforts around community building.
Although Ashlyn will begin Nursing School in September, she has worked hard to mentor a new team of youth leaders to take over this campaign and carry her work forward in the new school year.
You can read more information about how Ashlyn and her team began their change maker journey on our website. You’ll be inspired by their journey and can read about other initatives they have spearheaded in their school. Check out their profile on Re:Action4Inclusion’s website. HERE