programs : the program on social justice leadership

Social Justice Leadership Program is a multi-year, action-oriented experience that fosters student citizenship by incorporating humility, global awareness and social responsibility through instruction, group activities and volunteering in a local organization. Students develop a global perspective of the world and learn the complexities of working collectively to become an agent of change.

The Brookline community has traditionally welcomed innovation in areas that nurture the development of responsible citizenship and ethical debate.  Presently Brookline High School offers students a variety of community service opportunities as well as coursework on social issues.  However, as important and beneficial as these opportunities are, they are all too often limited either by the confines of a classroom experience or in the service they aim to achieve.
The primary goals of the program are as follows:

-To equip students with the tools necessary to enter the community of ‘change makers’;
-To nurture a profound sense of citizenship that incorporates humility, global awareness and social responsibility;
-To cultivate an interest in particular areas of concern and gain a sense of their own individual importance as an agent of change;
-To transform students to endeavor to create justice in their own lives and also the communities they seek to impact.
Social Justice Leadership aims to fill a void, creating a novel program offering students an experience that is student-defined and action-oriented.  It complements the existing student group, Student Action for Justice and Education (SAJE) — where there is a clear demand for more structured and supported social justice work.  A program coordinator procures placements for students and provides supportive programming in terms of readings, speakers, and opportunities to share experiences.  It offers students social justice leadership training that includes defining and refining personal mission statements, collaborative organizing to achieve social justice goals, and formalized training in effective leadership skills.  The core of the program is completion of an internship project in a local social justice organization. 

Students who complete trainings, internship and attend seminars will receive certification in social justice advocacy.