LSNA Freshman Retreat: A Day of Service

Nearly 100 Kelvyn Park students came together in a Martin Luther King Day retreat that celebrated community service while building relationships within the KP family.  The retreat, planned by LSNA youth leaders, included teambuilding games and student-led workshops focusing on self-reflection, decision-making and community service.
“Our goal is to help build community in the high school so that students don’t drop out,” said LSNA youth leader Violet Gallardo.  “Our research with VOYCE (Voices of Youth in Chicago Education shows that dropping out is a slow process of disconnection.  We want to help students build stronger relationships with young people and caring adults.”
After the workshops students walked to Kostner and Diversey Avenues, where they served free hot chocolate and cookies to community members. “Students decided to help neighbors see Kelvyn Park students in a positive way,” explained principal Isabel Tellez, who helped the students serve hot chocolate to a passersby.
52 freshmen along with 22 upperclassmen serving as freshmen mentors and 20 LSNA Parent Tutors volunteered to make the event a success.  The Tutors are 24 AmeriCorps members who work daily tutoring elementary school students, and chose to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King by supporting the high school students.
To become a mentor for a student at KPHS, call Juliet Alejandre or Elena Hernandez at LSNA.

Kelvyn Park HS students as part of the VOYCE project give away free hot chocolate and cookiesto the community in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.