Urban Ecology Center

Our Next Gener ation/ Westside Academy Volunteer Project Matt Irwin Media 150 Arch. Major

This semester I volunteering at Westside Academy II, which is located a half a block away from Our Next Generation.

Westside is a K-8th grade elementary school that emphasizes learning to solve complex problems using higher order thinking skills.

Westside Statistics:  93% of Students are African American  0% of Students Caucasian/White  660 Students with a 50/50 male/female ratio.

In conjunction with Our Next Generation, Westside has been able to provide after school activities for many of the students, which includes tutoring, clubs, and athletics.

Every Tuesday I would travel to Westside to join Mr. Brain and the Eco-Club. Right after school was let out at 2:30 the students were to report to the art room for an hour of study/reading time.

After a quick hour of study time, we were off to the Urban Ecology Center.

The Urban Ecology Center is located in the heart of Washington Park, which is about 7 blocks away from Westside.

Once we arrived at the Ecology Center the students would engage in daily activities that included…

Searching the pound for micro-organisms…

Learning how to read maps….

Leaf & Tree Identification…..

And Canoeing….

Picture taken from urban ecology website.

Along with many other adventurous activities…

After spending the rest of the day outside, the students would return to Westside and then head home for the night. Eco-club met every Tuesday & Thursdays.

What I took from this experience:  Patience- many of the students were wound-up after a stressful day at school and it took almost everything I had some days to understand we have different cultures. I have a lot of respect for the staff at Westside, after I experienced just a small dose of what they experience everyday, I’m not sure if I could do it.

 Respect- The students that go to Westside are hard workers.

Many of them take advantage of the after school programs which showed me that they were taking their futures seriously.

 Understanding- Coming from a totally different culture, this experience helped me understand why some of the students act the way they do and why there is so much community support behind these school programs.

This was a great experience and I could not have done it without the help of Our Next Generation, Westside, and UWM. Thank you.

Resources:  Westside Academy Statistics taken from www2.Milwaukee.k12.wi.us  Canoe picture taken from www.urbanecologycenter.org

 Google Maps  Westside Academy II & Our Next Generation