Murals for change

As the 2012 school year winds down, we have a chance to reflect back on our work with students and teachers in implementing problem based learning.  We often get the question what should PBL look like?  The Girls Empowerment Mural(GEM) Program is an example of a possibility of what it can look like.  "It" can look like educators brainstorming together on how we can empower our students.  And, it can look like students coming together to share ideas on how they can become change makers in their community.  When all said and done it can look like the murals pictured where students answered the question "How can you create change, in your home, your, school, and your Linden community?" through art making.  The panels created on recycled boards, were conceived and created by our 5 GEM high school leaders.  They came together once a week to brainstorm ideas and discuss how they would take on such a project.  Along the way they recruited the help of fellow students, educators, and artists.  In the end their concepts ranged from young women combating cyber bullying to creating safe and clean community spaces for all.  The leaders are immortalized in portraits through out the panels, but in reality the ideas are going to live on through the dialogue they inspire.  So as people try to envision how PBL can look, we look forward to designing more solutions that empower our young people to take on meaningful work!