Northgate HS "If I Could Change the World" projects address community issues

At Northgate HS, all sophomore World History students participate in "If I Could Change the World" projects, which culminate in a Showcase of their work. This year's showcase, held May 19, included 44 groups from the more than 350 students taking the course taught be three teachers at the school. 

During first semester, students individually research community or world issues that interest them and report to the class. In the second semester, students break into groups and choose which projects they would like to delve into further, including interviews and community service. In the showcase, students present displays explaining their research and provide interactive games or activities that help visitors better understand their topics and proposed solutions. They are also required to document their work and turn in written reflections about what they learned.

Topics included reducing screen time and getting outdoors, helping hospitalized children, advocating for inclusive government representation, proper nutrition and healthy eating, mental health issues, helping people in Gaza, and more. 

One group was concerned about the amount of time children and teens spend viewing phone and video screens. They volunteered at Sienna Ranch in Lafayette, which offers programs including archery, working with animals and getting outdoors. "We helped with weeding and taking care of animals and learned the value of staying connected with nature," said Joseph Haubrich. Shams Hazrat, who offered visitors a chance to try archery, said he really liked the project and enjoyed volunteering to do something good for the community,

Teacher Brian Corbett said the project gives students the opportunity to learn about modern conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and current local and national issues such as food insecurity, which are not often taught in world history. It also gives them a chance to interact with their community through civic engagement, as they learn how to advocate for a cause and exercise their role as citizens in a different way than they have done before, he added.

This is the eighth year the school has required the projects, which give students hands-on experience working in complex groups, calling organizations, doing community service, and interacting with adults in ways that may be outside their comfort zones, including public speaking at the showcase, Corbett said. Through these projects, students learned how to help make positive changes in the community and in the world.

Click to watch a reel highlighting the showcase.