Mission Statement
We are the Change Agents of Compton Early College High School. We are a student organization aimed at inspiring girls to develop into change agents while engaging in community service and active leadership. Our goal is to empower girls, our peers, and our community, in order to effect positive change.
The Change Agents are focused on addressing and promoting civic engagement and leadership amongst the youth of Compton. Our vision is to transform Compton Early College High School youth into active citizens who participate and share their strong voices within the city. Ultimately, the objective is to begin the dialogue which will value the voice of city's youth.
Project Need
The project need lies in the fact that a city with a population of 97,550, does not have a Youth Advocacy Group, furthermore, that one student representative is tasked with voicing the concerns of over 5,000 high school students with the school board. It is obvious that empowering the youth of Compton will lead to positive change within the city. By promoting a positive relationship that validates our youth, the city will thrive.
According the U.S. Census Bureau less than half of the city’s 96,418 residents are registered to vote. The data demonstrates that the overall voter turnout in the 2016 City of Compton Mayor’s election was a mere 6,977 or 15.4%. In fact, neither of the leadinging candidates, Aja Brown or Omar Bradley, received 50% of the vote, forcing a runoff election in June. Voter apathy and a lack of citizen participation are two issues that need to be addressed in our city. Our goal is to change that!
In order to determine and address a specific need, the Change Agents administered a Civic Engagement Survey in December 2017 to assess the the level of engagement and awareness amongst their peers. The survey was posted on the CEC Google Classroom page and garnered 175 responses. Upon evaluation, the GBLA team realized that the best way to empower our peers was education, awareness, and advocacy. We wanted to develop a project that would educate our peers of the relevant matters that affect them, allow them to become more aware of the elected officials that represent them, and ultimately empower them enough to advocate for themselves!
We are the Change Agents of Compton Early College High School. We are a student organization aimed at inspiring girls to develop into change agents while engaging in community service and active leadership. Our goal is to empower girls, our peers, and our community, in order to effect positive change.
The Change Agents are focused on addressing and promoting civic engagement and leadership amongst the youth of Compton. Our vision is to transform Compton Early College High School youth into active citizens who participate and share their strong voices within the city. Ultimately, the objective is to begin the dialogue which will value the voice of city's youth.
Project Need
The project need lies in the fact that a city with a population of 97,550, does not have a Youth Advocacy Group, furthermore, that one student representative is tasked with voicing the concerns of over 5,000 high school students with the school board. It is obvious that empowering the youth of Compton will lead to positive change within the city. By promoting a positive relationship that validates our youth, the city will thrive.
According the U.S. Census Bureau less than half of the city’s 96,418 residents are registered to vote. The data demonstrates that the overall voter turnout in the 2016 City of Compton Mayor’s election was a mere 6,977 or 15.4%. In fact, neither of the leadinging candidates, Aja Brown or Omar Bradley, received 50% of the vote, forcing a runoff election in June. Voter apathy and a lack of citizen participation are two issues that need to be addressed in our city. Our goal is to change that!
In order to determine and address a specific need, the Change Agents administered a Civic Engagement Survey in December 2017 to assess the the level of engagement and awareness amongst their peers. The survey was posted on the CEC Google Classroom page and garnered 175 responses. Upon evaluation, the GBLA team realized that the best way to empower our peers was education, awareness, and advocacy. We wanted to develop a project that would educate our peers of the relevant matters that affect them, allow them to become more aware of the elected officials that represent them, and ultimately empower them enough to advocate for themselves!
Throughout the school year we focused on the advocacy and empowerment. The GBLA focused on four main events: the Compton Youth Advocacy Group, (a youth council aimed at promoting civic engagement and inspiring the next generation of leaders), Voter Registration (an effort to register as many Compton citizens as possible, focusing on pre-registration), the Did You Know Campaign (a social media challenge intended to raise awareness about current issues and encourage academic discussion), and the Compton Youth Leadership Summit ( a day dedicated to inspiring the future of Compton by focusing on higher education, community service, and political awareness).
The GBLA Change Agents set out to engage the community, encourage service, and inspire our peers to advocate for themselves.
Process
The 50 member GBLA Change Agents met every Friday after school, during lunch on Early Release Days, and on weekends when needed. Every meeting consisted of a brief check-in, a shared meal or snack, collaboration, and planning. The most effective use of our time and size was to delegate tasks and responsibilities, therefore, four committees were formed: Youth Advocacy Committee, Youth Leadership Summit Committee, Voter Registration/Did You Know Campaign Committee, and the Health Fair Committee.
During GBLA meetings, each committee worked on their specific tasks and goals. These tasks and goals included , but were not limited to, creating flyers, contacting politicians, recruiting community organizations, setting up meetings, creating surveys, and promoting events via morning announcements, flyer, and social media. Every team member checked the GBLA Change Agents Google Classroom site in order to find updates, recruitment and/or donation scripts, as well as, access to ideas and requests from fellow Change Agents.
Ultimately, through their efforts and organization, the Voice of Compton Project consisted of the following events:
Event: Meeting with Gabriela Medina from Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan’s Office
Date: December 19, 2017
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: Jefferson Awards Foundation and GBLA members
Event: Disaster Relief Holiday Donation
Date: December 21, 2017
Location: CEC Classrooms
Participants: $200 Raised
Event: Youth Advocacy Group Proposal Meeting with Mayor Aja Brown
Date: January 18, 2018
Location: Mayor Aja Brown’s Office
Participants: 5 Compton Youths (Attended Town Hall)
Event: Pre-Registration Fair
Date: February 21-23, 2018
Location: CEC Quad
Participants: 34 CEC Students
Event: Did You Know Challenge
Date: March 1-30, 2018
Location: IG: @change.agents
Participants: 18 Total Comments
Event: Day of Dialogue
Date: March 14, 2018
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: ALL CEC and Willowbrook M.S. Students
Event: Compton Youth Leadership Summit
Date: March 24, 2018
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: 64 Attendees
Event: Youth Advocacy Group Town Hall
Date: April 20, 2018
Location: Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center
Participants: 5 Attendees
Event: WE Walk for Water
Date: April 27, 2018
Location: CEC Track
Participants: ALL CEC Students
Event: 3rd Annual Health Fair
Date: April 27, 2018
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: 40 CEC and Willowbrook M.S. Students
Outcome
The Change Agents set out to inspire their peers and encourage them to become active citizens within our community and our society. The GBLA team developed a project that promote political awareness, civic engagement, community service, and youth advocacy.
Political Awareness: The Did You Know Challenge Campaign introduced relevant and meaningful topics to our peers and encouraged them to engage in dialogue. Topics selected included: DACA, gun reform, net neutrality, and the California gubernatorial race. We were able to successfully encourage our peers to begin to think critically about matters that ultimately affected them. There were 18 comments that demonstrated our peers were prepared to begin these discussions amongst themselves.
Civic Engagement: The idea of a Compton Youth Advocacy Group was set to be introduced to Mayor Aja Brown, much to our surprise, during our initial meeting, she instantly approved and endorsed the program. Compton’s first youth council is set to launch in the fall of 2018. In order to promote the council, the Change Agents hosted a Town Hall to introduce the YAG to the 5 interested students in attendance, one whom drove from Long Beach to become involved! The youth of Compton will be allowed to make meaningful political contributions to their city via the Compton youth Advocacy Group.
In addition, the Change Agents, partnered with current members of the Los Angeles Youth Advocacy Group to host a Pre-Registration Fair. Over three days during lunch, 34 Compton Early College 16 and 17-year olds pre-registered to vote, thus beginning their civic engagement now!Community Service: The Compton Youth Leadership Summit and the 3rd Annual Health Fair specifically invited community organizations focused on community service. The purpose was twofold. One, we wanted our peers to realize the invaluable resources and organizations within our community; and, two, we hoped all attendees would be inspired to join these organizations and begin to volunteer.
Youth Advocacy: “I’m going to email…” This statement was the ultimate testament to our mission. Our goal was to empower our peers and our journey began with a simple email to a Mayor, and a simple email to a Congresswoman. As our peers attended our events and inquired about our connections we shared our secret: we used our voice. Though we cannot quantify this impact, it is this very statement, which we heard repeatedly, that demonstrated the success of our project. Our peers learned to use their voice!
Ultimately, we feel we accomplished our goal in beginning the dialogue about our (youth) role in decision-making, political awareness, and community building.
Short Term Outcome:
Each GBLA event was a success in terms of setting a foundation. Our peers walked away from every GBLA event/activity with pertinent knowledge regarding higher education, service, and community resources. The fact that our District 44 representative, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan, came to Compton to deliver the Keynote Address during the Compton Youth Leadership Summit, helped our peers realize that they are valued and that their opinions matter!
Long Term Outcome:
While developing our project, the Change Agents wanted to develop programs that were sustainable and would truly allow the youth of Compton to become the voice of Compton. The establishment of a Mayor’s Youth Advocacy Group will continue for years to come. Our project set the foundation for all of Compton’s students to become politically empowered, now and in the future.The Compton Youth Leadership Summit was open to middle and high school students. Students left the event realizing that they too could affect positive change within our community.
The Change Agents continue to value established relationships and create new and meaningful relationships. One such relationship, with Dr. Cynthia Davis, of Charles Drew University and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, led to us being awarded an additional $1,000 community service grant for hosting our Third Annual Health Fair. In addition, several local community organizations have reached out to us via Instagram hoping to partner with us. These relationships and networks will allow us to continue to introduce our peers to valuable organizations that will benefit them.
Through the Voice of Compton project, the GBLA Change Agents inspired the future of Compton. Students were encouraged to pursue a higher education and return to Compton and become the face of Compton.
Evidence
In order to better assess our impact and guide our future GBLA projects, we conducted a formal school evaluation. We received 51 responses which demonstrated that GBLA events positively impacted our peers, were effective in promoting civic engagement and political awareness, and an overall success in encourage the youth of Compton to find its voice!
You may find a few of the responses below.
The GBLA Change Agents set out to engage the community, encourage service, and inspire our peers to advocate for themselves.
Process
The 50 member GBLA Change Agents met every Friday after school, during lunch on Early Release Days, and on weekends when needed. Every meeting consisted of a brief check-in, a shared meal or snack, collaboration, and planning. The most effective use of our time and size was to delegate tasks and responsibilities, therefore, four committees were formed: Youth Advocacy Committee, Youth Leadership Summit Committee, Voter Registration/Did You Know Campaign Committee, and the Health Fair Committee.
During GBLA meetings, each committee worked on their specific tasks and goals. These tasks and goals included , but were not limited to, creating flyers, contacting politicians, recruiting community organizations, setting up meetings, creating surveys, and promoting events via morning announcements, flyer, and social media. Every team member checked the GBLA Change Agents Google Classroom site in order to find updates, recruitment and/or donation scripts, as well as, access to ideas and requests from fellow Change Agents.
Ultimately, through their efforts and organization, the Voice of Compton Project consisted of the following events:
Event: Meeting with Gabriela Medina from Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan’s Office
Date: December 19, 2017
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: Jefferson Awards Foundation and GBLA members
Event: Disaster Relief Holiday Donation
Date: December 21, 2017
Location: CEC Classrooms
Participants: $200 Raised
Event: Youth Advocacy Group Proposal Meeting with Mayor Aja Brown
Date: January 18, 2018
Location: Mayor Aja Brown’s Office
Participants: 5 Compton Youths (Attended Town Hall)
Event: Pre-Registration Fair
Date: February 21-23, 2018
Location: CEC Quad
Participants: 34 CEC Students
Event: Did You Know Challenge
Date: March 1-30, 2018
Location: IG: @change.agents
Participants: 18 Total Comments
Event: Day of Dialogue
Date: March 14, 2018
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: ALL CEC and Willowbrook M.S. Students
Event: Compton Youth Leadership Summit
Date: March 24, 2018
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: 64 Attendees
Event: Youth Advocacy Group Town Hall
Date: April 20, 2018
Location: Douglas F. Dollarhide Community Center
Participants: 5 Attendees
Event: WE Walk for Water
Date: April 27, 2018
Location: CEC Track
Participants: ALL CEC Students
Event: 3rd Annual Health Fair
Date: April 27, 2018
Location: Compton Early College H.S.
Participants: 40 CEC and Willowbrook M.S. Students
Outcome
The Change Agents set out to inspire their peers and encourage them to become active citizens within our community and our society. The GBLA team developed a project that promote political awareness, civic engagement, community service, and youth advocacy.
Political Awareness: The Did You Know Challenge Campaign introduced relevant and meaningful topics to our peers and encouraged them to engage in dialogue. Topics selected included: DACA, gun reform, net neutrality, and the California gubernatorial race. We were able to successfully encourage our peers to begin to think critically about matters that ultimately affected them. There were 18 comments that demonstrated our peers were prepared to begin these discussions amongst themselves.
Civic Engagement: The idea of a Compton Youth Advocacy Group was set to be introduced to Mayor Aja Brown, much to our surprise, during our initial meeting, she instantly approved and endorsed the program. Compton’s first youth council is set to launch in the fall of 2018. In order to promote the council, the Change Agents hosted a Town Hall to introduce the YAG to the 5 interested students in attendance, one whom drove from Long Beach to become involved! The youth of Compton will be allowed to make meaningful political contributions to their city via the Compton youth Advocacy Group.
In addition, the Change Agents, partnered with current members of the Los Angeles Youth Advocacy Group to host a Pre-Registration Fair. Over three days during lunch, 34 Compton Early College 16 and 17-year olds pre-registered to vote, thus beginning their civic engagement now!Community Service: The Compton Youth Leadership Summit and the 3rd Annual Health Fair specifically invited community organizations focused on community service. The purpose was twofold. One, we wanted our peers to realize the invaluable resources and organizations within our community; and, two, we hoped all attendees would be inspired to join these organizations and begin to volunteer.
Youth Advocacy: “I’m going to email…” This statement was the ultimate testament to our mission. Our goal was to empower our peers and our journey began with a simple email to a Mayor, and a simple email to a Congresswoman. As our peers attended our events and inquired about our connections we shared our secret: we used our voice. Though we cannot quantify this impact, it is this very statement, which we heard repeatedly, that demonstrated the success of our project. Our peers learned to use their voice!
Ultimately, we feel we accomplished our goal in beginning the dialogue about our (youth) role in decision-making, political awareness, and community building.
Short Term Outcome:
Each GBLA event was a success in terms of setting a foundation. Our peers walked away from every GBLA event/activity with pertinent knowledge regarding higher education, service, and community resources. The fact that our District 44 representative, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan, came to Compton to deliver the Keynote Address during the Compton Youth Leadership Summit, helped our peers realize that they are valued and that their opinions matter!
Long Term Outcome:
While developing our project, the Change Agents wanted to develop programs that were sustainable and would truly allow the youth of Compton to become the voice of Compton. The establishment of a Mayor’s Youth Advocacy Group will continue for years to come. Our project set the foundation for all of Compton’s students to become politically empowered, now and in the future.The Compton Youth Leadership Summit was open to middle and high school students. Students left the event realizing that they too could affect positive change within our community.
The Change Agents continue to value established relationships and create new and meaningful relationships. One such relationship, with Dr. Cynthia Davis, of Charles Drew University and AIDS Healthcare Foundation, led to us being awarded an additional $1,000 community service grant for hosting our Third Annual Health Fair. In addition, several local community organizations have reached out to us via Instagram hoping to partner with us. These relationships and networks will allow us to continue to introduce our peers to valuable organizations that will benefit them.
Through the Voice of Compton project, the GBLA Change Agents inspired the future of Compton. Students were encouraged to pursue a higher education and return to Compton and become the face of Compton.
Evidence
In order to better assess our impact and guide our future GBLA projects, we conducted a formal school evaluation. We received 51 responses which demonstrated that GBLA events positively impacted our peers, were effective in promoting civic engagement and political awareness, and an overall success in encourage the youth of Compton to find its voice!
You may find a few of the responses below.
Reflection
The City of Compton is portrayed as the perfect example of the urban crisis. However, that is not our reality. We, the GBLA Change Agents, are dedicated, talented, and focused individuals who wear Compton with pride. This year, through our project, the Voice of Compton, we set out to recapture our story. We acknowledge and recognize our city’s downfalls, and we also recognized that we, the youth of Compton will change that narrative. This year, the Voice of Compton exceeded our expectations! Through persistence and collaboration we were able to persuade our mayor to launch a youth advocacy group, the city’s first. With dedication and hard work, we were able to organize an event and invite a congresswoman to deliver a keynote address to 64 students who cannot yet vote for her! But most importantly, through long days, shared Google docs, and working lunches, we succeeded in reaching our peers. Our peers attended and supported GBLA events and in the process became empowered and key players in the true narrative of Compton. An authentic representation of Compton begins with us and true change in our beloved city will begin with service and policy. We hoped to inspire those future activists and politicians. Did we solve all of Compton’s problems? No! We did, however, begin the conversation about which way our city is headed. We encouraged our peers to become politically aware and informed citizens. Our goal was to empower our peers to become the authors of the narrative of Compton. The Voice of Compton gave us a reason to keep persisting! Project Planners |