Session One -  Sunday, September 20, 2015, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Service 101 - Welcome to KidUnity!  ((Families Welcome)

Location:  The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

Guest Speaker:  Former First Lady of California: Sharon Davis

 

Our kick-off at the Wallis will set the stage for KidUnity’s approach to learning, doing, and giving.  Students will learn about the role of performing arts in the community.  The session will feature fun hands-on, team-building activities.  In addition, former First Lady of California, Sharon Davis, also a founding Wallis board member, will speak about the important role of performing arts in a community and work with them in a game format to provide a framework of giving that the students will apply throughout the program.

 

Session Two: Thursday, October 22, 2015,  4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Investigating our Community

Location: Beverly Hills Courier

Guest Speaker:  Editor or Staff Investigator/reporter of the Courier

 

This session focuses on the fundamental tools of social investigation. Students will learn about important community issues and how a local newspaper investigates and reports news. Students will have time to practice newly acquired interview skills with a panel of community leaders. Our concluding reflection will allow students to pitch story ideas and brainstorm about how such stories could be investigated, cumulating in a story which will be published in the BH Courier!

 

Session Three:  Thursday, November 19, 2015,  4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Behind the Scenes of Keeping Our City Safe

Location:  Beverly Hills Police Department

Guest Speaker:  Beverly Hills Police Officer (K9 Unit)

 

Students will get a first-hand and interactive overview of a K9 unit with the BH police department.  Students will learn about the tools, technology and resources the police  use as first responders to community emergencies.  

 

 

Session Four:  Thursday, December 3, 2015, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Corporate Philanthropy

Location: TBD

 

Corporations often play important roles in addressing community issues, but they often do so in opaque ways.  The focus of this session will be to uncover what corporations can and are doing for the community. KidUnity will meet at a local restaurant where the students will hear about, and discuss, the restaurant’s community programs.  Students will then make a dish with the chefs which they will serve at SOVA, a local food pantry.  

 

Session Five:  Thursday, January 7, 2015, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Roxbury Park - What does it Take to Renovate a City Park

Location:  Roxbury Park

Guest Speaker:  Architect / Contractor,

and Parks and Recreation Commissioner

 

A KidUnity exclusive!  Participants will play a leadership role in determining the future function and features of the La Cienega Park renovations.  Students will tour the recently renovated Roxbury Park with the City’s Park and Recreation Commissioner to learn about the process of renovating a park.  Students will consider the perspective of many of the park’s constituents and engage in a fun activity as they gather ideas for their proposals for the following session.

 

Session Six:   Thursday, February 11, 2015, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

La Cienega Park - Leadership Council

Location: La Cienega Park

Guest Speaker: Architect / Contractor, and Parks and Recreation Commissioner

 

Part two of the park renovation project, students will have a chance to put to use what they learned in the past session by touring the La Cienega Park site and proposing their own ideas about what features and functions the future site should have. Students will meet with and provide critical feedback to the landscape architect firm working with the City.  

 

Session Seven:  Thursday, March 10, 2015, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

The Power of Social Media & Presenting Your Cause

Location: BH-based public relations firm

Guest Speaker:  Social media guru

 

Drawing on their experiences and recommendations for La Cienega Park, students will learn how to harness social media for advocating change.  They may also work on their newspaper story for the BH Courier.   Finally, students will form ‘policy groups’ based on their recommendations for the La Cienega Park and start to prepare for the following session and their presentations to the BH City Council.

 

Session Eight:  Tuesday, April 19, 2015, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.  (Parents Welcome)

Advocating for a Cause to Your Local Government

Location:  Beverly Hills City Council Chamber at City Hall

Guest Speaker:  Beverly Hills City Council

 

Student ‘policy groups’ will present their recommendations for La Cienega Park to a special session of the Beverly Hills City Council.  Students will learn about the role of the Council in influencing change and passing local laws, and gain a first-hand understanding of how to effectively lobby for community change.

 

Week Nine: Sunday, May 22, 2015, 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. (Families Welcome)

Reflection - Understanding the Power in You To Make Change & Celebration!

Location: TBD

Speaker:  KidUnity Participants

 

Students will host an end-of-program event (think pizza & homemade baked goods) where they will present some of their new insights, share their recommendations and proposals and advocacy for changes, and announce funding awards.   Community leaders, non-profit executives and students’ peers and families will attend this capstone event to celebrate the students efforts!

 

* All session, lesson plans and locations are subject to change based on partner organization schedules.  Parents will be notified by email when a change occurs.   Please also consult the Kidunity.us website in advance of each session for an up-to-date schedule.  Snacks and refreshments will be provided at each session.