Three to four times a week, students meet in small groups for Issues class. The curriculum for Issues consists of brief but thought-provoking readings around a central topic; topics change each week and range from issues like race and social class to immigration and gender. Students meet in small groups of 5-6 students and 2 staff facilitators in a safe space where they can actually share thoughts and feelings generated by the readings. We see Issues class as an opportunity not only to help our students understand the challenges that lie ahead, but also to improve their reading comprehension skills and provide them with inspiring role models and mentors.

We believe our students have the maturity, self-reflection, and passion to bring their own insight into the issues that concern our society. It is our philosophy that part of becoming an adult isn’t just getting an education and seeking gainful employment, but is also exploring our own values and having a clear sense of self. It is also learning to hear the voices of others, empathize with neighbors, and be open minded to alternative viewpoints.

Our students are smart, insightful, and caring individuals and at our program we want them to not only grow in book knowledge but also in their critical thinking abilities and knowledge of the world and society around them. Not only do our students learn from the staff and their peers, our staff also learn a great deal from the students. 

Authors our students read include:

• Junot Diaz

• Ursula K. Le Guin

• Sherman Alexie

• Gloria Steinem

• James Baldwin

• Amy Tan

• bell hooks

• Judith Ortiz Cofer