community walk presentation - april 2013

7/30/2019 Community Walk Presentation - April 2013

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RenaissanceAcademy

Irene Alarcon, Allison Bradley, Alicia Crawford,

Danielle Diaz, Mary Isho, Amy Morgan



Dodge Renaissance Academy

2651 W. Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL

60612

Dodge Academy is located in the East Garfield Parkneighborhood on the west side of Chicago. East

Garfield Park is often referred to as one of the "up and

coming neighborhoods" in the city of Chicago. The

community surrounding Dodge offers support for Dodge's students in a variety of ways as highlighted in

this community walk.



Geographic Placement and

Significance

East Garfield Park is a mostly low-income, African- American community that is located two to three miles

west of the Loop on the Green Line.

After the 1968 riots the community's business sector wasdevastated and significant amounts of its population fled.The neighborhood has never fully recovered.



East Garfield Park Demographic

Data



East Garfield Park's Median

Household Income



Dodge Renaissance Academy

Demographic Data



Areas of Interest

East Garfield Park has many areas of interest that directly influence Dodge's sense

of community. For example, the East Garfield Park Conservatory, located nearly 1

mile from school grounds, adds to the gentrification of Dodge's surroundings. The

Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, which has served several of Dodge students,

is located within a half mile.



Changes in the Community

"People were shocked when I sold my Jeep around 2005 and started walking from

the California green line stop... which is only a block and a half away.

Someone said that before Dodge re-opened it would not have been safe towalk from the train to school. Washington Blvd. is a beautiful block and I have

seen lots of change in the 10 years I have been at school. I actually like to think

that I am "tough" and I have actually never felt scared or threatened walking

around the neighborhood."

-Ms. Kristie Morsher, Art Teacher



Institutional Initiatives

An interview with Terrence Bolden, 8th grade student at Dodge Academy

http://youtube.com/v/EUvtPpPyb8I



Community Partnership:

Winston & Strawn

The law offices of Winston and Strawn have been providing donations to Dodge since

2003. Their support has provided a lot of great things for the students which they may

not have received otherwise.

The donations from Winston and Strawn have also paid for the playground and the

literacy lounge, which holds books and games for students.



Community Partnership:

Johnny's Ice House

Dodge's Academic Director, Amy Versaw, speaks about

the Johnny's Icehouse Initiative at Dodge Academy.

https://voicethread.com/share/4426129/







Community Partnership: SPARK

"SPARK is a national non-profit organization that provides

students with an opportunity to participate in an

apprenticeship with local business' and organizations

throughout the community."

-Katie Lyons

SPARK Coordinator

http://youtube.com/v/ohXBrAF2Z_0

http://youtube.com/v/ohXBrAF2Z_0



Spark: Discovery Night

Discovery night allows Dodge students

to invite their mentor and present what

they have learned to community members,

parents, family members, school, and staff!



Members of the Dodge Community

Dodge Academy parents speak about the community's influence on their

children's education

http://youtube.com/v/TUygo2xLMhk



Recent Changes in the Community

It was recently announced that next year

Dodge will be closed and staff and students

will move to Morton School of Excellence with

two schools operating in one building. Thishas changed the entire community of Dodge

with the focus now on how to retain students,

establish a new community within Morton,and continue the commitment to high quality

teaching and learning.



Dodge's Future Vision

Dodge school leader, Amy Versaw, speaks

about her vision for Dodge's future in light of

recent news of Dodge's closure.

http://voicethread.com/share/4426191/









Bryk:

Five Primary Subsystems

When comparing Bryk's five

subsystems that are

essential for school

improvement to Dodge'scurrent subsystems, it is

apparent that Dodge is

lacking in several areas.

However, recent efforts tolaunch a Community

Outreach Committee has

strengthened each of

Dodge's deficits.

• Parent and community

involvement

• Professional capacity

• Student-centered learning climate

• Instructional guidance• School leadership



Bryk:

The Influences of Community

"Bonding social capital focuses Examples at Dodge

on the density of supportive social - Spark

ties within a neighborhood or - Johnny's Ice

Housecommunity. The existence of such - Winston and Strawn

ties affords group solidarity that - YMCA

makes achieving collective goals - Nearby Churches

much more likely. "-Chapter 6



The Relevance of Our Own

Instruction

As educators we know that outside factors

such as students’ personal, professional

and social identities, beliefs, and

experiences greatly influence classroom

teaching and experience. It is the

responsibility of us as educators to usesocio-economic and cultural contexts to

shape our practice. Therefore, in the

effort to strive for social justice in

teaching, we must have a deep

understanding of where students are

coming from. Being familiar with thecommunity, how it has changed, and the

direction it is going is imperative for such

goals to be achieved.



Bibliography

Bryk, A. S. (2010). Organizing schools for improvement: Lessons from chicago.

Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

East garfield park neighborhood in chicago, il . (2011). Retrieved from

http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/East-Garfield-Park-Chicago-IL.htm

East garfield seeks greener, healthier future. (2013). Retrieved from

http://www.newcommunities.org/communities/eastgarfield/

Mary mapes dodge renaissance academy. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.cps.edu/Schools/Pages/school.aspx?id=609888l

community walk presentation - april 2013

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