The Adams AVID Ambassadors are students at Adams Middle School located in Richmond, Ca. The students in our class are engaged in learning the national AVID curriculum through service learning becasue we recognize that sometimes it is hard for students to have academic success when they face the type of problems that are abound in communities like Richmond. We recognize students travel through neighborhoods that have problems with gangs, drugs, homelessness. We understand that in poor communities some of our peers suffer from debilitating disease and still try to make it through the academic process and the AVID students want to help. We recognize that as a town we face major environmental challenges and we want to make a difference.

Adams Middle School students open their hearts to making a difference on campus and in their communities by creating models of non-profit busineeses dedicated to solve problems in their communities. Each team starts by creating a mission statement, developing goals and objectives, and throughout the school year they not only research and write about these issues but they also raise money for real local charities. On campus the student teams participate in activities that allow them to educate the student body about issues like: Homeless emanciapted foster care young adults Taking the bang out of gang violence Supporting youth with debilitating diseases Saving the environment Animal protection drug abuse As a class we are united in working to raise money through a school publication that will be used to help build a school in a South American community in partnership with the O'Ambassador program. We are Adams Falcon and we realize as we try to make a difference in our communities we are also helping to make our school climate more pleasent for students striving for academic success. It is not mandatory but students are encourage to participate in volunteer efforts with local community organization and programs with the support of or in partnership with their parents. AVID Ambassadors in the past have volunteered at the public library, food kitchens that feed the hungry and health agencies that accept student volunteers.

The students began the school year by brain storming as a class the problems in society that concern them the most. They form their teams by joining with students who have similar concerns. Next they create a mission statement and a series of goals and objectives that consist of acitities that educate others about the problem and fund raising events. Money earned from these activities will go directly to a local community organization or non-profit that is actively serving people with these related problems. Throughout the year they gather research, writing persuasive, compare and contrast, and problem solution essays that are given to the student body. This will culminate into producing a book that will be used to raise money for supporting the building of a school in South America.

We are always looking for speakers to share their experience working in these areas. We will accept donations for specific teams addressing issues and we will be looking for customers willing to purchase our book in the spring.