 February 2009
Our Mission:
Cultural Leadership exists to create a more just and equitable
community by educating high school students to recognize and resolve
issues of privilege and injustice through the lens of the Afric.an
American and Jewish experience.
Our Mantra: When
our students see a problem, they grab an ally, or two, roll up their
sleeves, and get to work to make our world a better place. |
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Class 5 Begins Their Year in Cultural Leadership
On the weekend of Martin Luther King's Birthday and just days before President Barack Obama's inauguration, Class 5 students met for their first retreat. It was indeed a weekend dedicated to honoring the leaders of the past, celebrating the leaders of today and training the leaders of tomorrow. 
During an exercise called "The Fishbowl," students listen to each other
discuss the stereotypes and challenges they face as a part of their racial, religious or ethnic group. It was, for many, the first time they began to understand what it might be
like to walk in another person's shoes.
African American males discuss in the inner circle while those on the outside listen.
The weekend was filled with moving, eye-opening experiences like The Fishbowl. But, there was plenty of time for laid-back activities too, such as the Egg Drop where students built devices to protect an egg dropped from the air.
The team below celebrates their still intact egg after it was dropped. (From left to right: Julia Moskowitz, ReNeaSha Ford, Keilah Johnson and Jake Warshaw)
Over the course of three intensive days, Class 5 went from strangers to family. We are
so excited for the year we get to spend with this class of wonderful
students. |
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Class 4 Graduates with
Their Own Unique Style
photos courtesy of Alonzo Byrd
  Class 4 prepared graduation entirely on
their own and it was wonderful! They presented a collection of stories and
thoughts from the year, performed a wonderful rendition of the
Temptations, and displayed talent by sharing their Cultural Leadership experience through art, music and poetry.
A record number of Class 5 students came to watch the ceremony and got a taste of their year to come in CL.
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Students Give Obama their Two Cents
Lauren Caskey (Class 4) and Nina Oberman (Class 5) were selected as finalists for essays they wrote for the "Inaugural Essay Contest- If I were president, here's what I would change." Their essays were published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
Here's what would happen if Cultural Leadership students ended up in the White House...
Lauren Caskey- Senior at Villa Duchesne
Whoever said ignorance was bliss was obviously not Black and definitely
not a woman. I am a Black female in America, and not many citizens
could understand the glass ceilings I will face. If I were president I
would change the history course of education so that social awareness
was a subject that everyone would take. Walking in someone else's shoes
would be written into the history books. It would not be a few words
here about slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, or a few sentences
about women's suffrage, or even just a picture of Caesar Chavez. It
would be a total history of all peoples that make up this nation. It is
essential to move past tolerance and closer to acceptance. This can
only be done by learning about people who are not of the same race,
faith, and gender.
Ignorance is not bliss and education is the
cure to ignorance. I believe that every child has the right to be
educated, and that same child should be able to see their ancestors in
the history books. American history is not just one history. It is many
histories-white history, black history, Latino history, and women's
history. Because in the end we are all one race: the human race. If I
were the first African-American female president, I would be shattering
the prejudice gaps that exist in our society, and taking a step closer
to ending stereotypical injustice.
Nina Oberman - Junior at Clayton High School
Our nation was founded audaciously in the name of equality, ensuring
every citizen the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." Jefferson's meritocratic ideals become void, however, when
individuals lack the resources necessary for this pursuit. Such is the
failure of the American educational system. Over five decades since the
Brown v. Board of Education ruling, schools remain segregated by the
wealth of their communities. As president, my priority would be to
close this gap, securing the American dream for all citizens-regardless
of their socio-economic background.
Reforming education goes beyond
increasing government spending. To achieve effective change, we must
reconsider how we perceive teaching, emphasizing engagement of
students, enthusiasm for knowledge, and accountability for failure.
Americans should view educators as admirable, encouraging more college
students to enter a field which they often shy away from.
Parental
involvement is central to a successful education, and we need to
support grassroots efforts that will engage parents who are
uninterested in their child's schooling. If not, children will only
inherit this indifference. Higher education must become more
affordable, making it a feasible option for all students-not just those
whose parents went to college.
Education drives the economy. It
drives innovation. It drives community. If we fail to fulfill our
nation's most fundamental promise, we turn our backs on our founding
fathers' bold vision of a society in which all can succeed. As
president, I would strive to make the American dream truly viable.
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Ripples...Dominique Bullock (Class 2)
has decided to pursue a career in law after spending her winter break
shadowing a number of attorneys who are Cultural Leadership
parents.
Jeremy Cropf (Class 2)
had a very successful screening at the Tivoli of his movie The Disk:
Code Zero, which brought in well over 350 people. The
film will screen in New York City this spring and at various film
festivals throughout the year. Jeremy is also working with the House of
the Lord Church to put together documentaries and educational videos
promoting the work that they are doing in Darfur and the Middle East.
Jasmine Furr (Class 1) , Emily Menendez (Class 4) and Nina Oberman (Class 5) traveled to Washington D.C. for President Obama's inauguration.
Jen Golden (Class 4)
recruited 15 of her friends and began a tutoring program at Wydown
Middle School. The group is called Jen's Reading Partners.
Matthew Kincaid (Class 2) is currently involved in a program at Tufts University, in Medford, MA, a suburb of Boston, called the Tisch Public Service and Active Citizenship
Scholars. This select group of students provides service in the
surrounding communities. Matthew is also a campus ministry leader for the Black/Latino-centered Christian Bible Study.
Matt Kleiman (Class 1) went to Israel on the Jewish National Fund's
Alternative Winter Break. He raised $1400 for the people of Israel and helped build an Indoor
Playground in Sderot. This playground will provide activities for children in a facility that is built to
withstand rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip. He also worked in very
poor development towns in the Negev desert and helped improve the living
conditions for the residents.
Emily Menendez (Class 4) planned a very successful Mix It Up day at Parkway North High School that you can read about here.
Emily Menendez (Class 4) and Porsche Poole (Class 4) brought their youth groups together for a social justice inspired Shabbat service at Congregation Shaare Emeth, written by Emily, and a Soul Food Shabbat dinner following the service. It was so successful, they are planning another joint event at Porsche's church.
Clarissa Polk (Class 1) is in China for the spring semester and Scott Friedman (Class 1) is in Paris.
Kyriah Shannon (Class 4) and Hannah Novack (Class 4)
spoke at Kyriah's church, Believers Temple Word Fellowship, on January 25th. Their
speeches were so inspiring that Bishop Scott passed the plate after their speeches and the parishoners donated $792.15 to
Cultural Leadership.
Meredith Stoner and Nate Seeskin (Class 4) invited the National STAND Director, Nick Gaw, to speak to their school
chapter at John Burroughs School. They are also collecting cellphones to be recycled.
Eco-Cell, the recycling company, sends the profits to the National STAND
organization.
Maayan Simkes (Class 1) and Matthew Kincaid (Class 2) are starting a Black-Jewish dialogue at Tufts University with a fellow Tufts students and Operation Understanding DC graduate they recently met.
Rachel Winston (Class 1) went on a tour of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp on the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass). She writes, "It never fails to amaze me just how much I still use and rely on the things I gained in Cultural Leadership." |
Cultural Leadership Facilitates Discussions for the Community
We continue to plan "courageous conversations," in the community on hot topic social issues. Future facilitations are planned at Parkway West Middle School, Francis Howell High School and Monsanto.
At a recent meeting with the staff of Keysor Elementary School, Cultural Leadership students shared their thoughts and ideas about the academic achievement gap between their Black and white students. One teacher commented on the meeting, "The students were quite
informative. It gave us great insight into the psyche of an African American child and how to
reach and make connections with African American students."
If you are interested in having Cultural Leadership students and alums facilitate discussions in your school, workplace, house of worship, or with any other group, we would be happy to arrange that. For more information, please e-mail us at programdirector@culturaleadership.com or call 314-725-3222. |
Our Thanks Go To...
Adam Rosen (Class 3) whom we forgot to thank at the Class 4 graduation. Adam did all of the technical behind the scenes work that made our graduation look professional and run smoothly.
Aaron and Nancy Novack (Class 4 parents) for allowing us to use their wonderful space at the Soulard Preservation Hall for Class 4 graduation rehearsal.
Stewart Halperin, a local professional photographer, who joined Class 4 on the first part of their summer trip. He took many of the photographs shown during the graduation ceremony and the majority of the photos we send to media sources in the region.
Alonzo Byrd (Class 4 parent) for being our unofficial Class 4 photographer.
Father George Lane, President of Loyola Press, for donating 14 copies of What I Wish My Christian Friends Knew about Judaism to Cultural Leadership.
Blake Harris (Class 1), Elliot Kleiman (Class 3) and Rose Darabcsek for chaperoning Class 5 students during their retreat.
Rabbi Susan Talve and Central Reform Congregation for welcoming Class 5 for Shabbat services on Friday, January 16th and for answering questions after the service.
Rev. Myron Taylor and New Bethel MB Church for welcoming Class 5 for services on Sunday, January 18th.
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Internship Opportunities for Our Students
We have wonderful, curious, hardworking students who are looking for internships. Please keep our students in mind if you come across interesting opportunities. Contact us at programdirector@culturalleadership.com and we will forward any information on to the students. Thank you!
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Please do not hesitate to be in touch with any questions, comments or updates at 314-725-3222, programdirector@culturalleadership.com or by visiting www.culturalleadership.org.
Take Care,
Karen Kalish & Jenny Harris
Founder and Executive Director Program Director
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