Black Lives Matter: Voices of Hope and Change: Recommended for Middle and High School Students
Equal Justice Initiative
The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the U.S., challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society.
Bryan Stevenson and Equal Justice Initiative litigate cases for the unjustly imprisoned and work to reform the justice system.
Bryan Stevenson has been recognized across the globe for the work that he has done to address poverty and racial inequality.
Bryan Stevenson is a public interest attorney who has dedicated his life to representing poor people and people of color who have received unjust treatment in the U.S. Criminal Justice System.
MY HERO International Film Winner Words Have Power Film and Lesson Plans
MY HERO International Film Festival Winner Words Have Power is about a 10 year old girl who rallied her community to protest the health effects that a local power plant had on their community and succeeded in having the plant close. Lesson plan activities provided by Young Voice for the Planet and organized by grade level.
Middle School Words Have Power Lesson Plan
Social Justice Multimedia Resources for High School and Middle School
Access to Education for All
An Indian girl gains a bicycle, and the will to achieve.
Armene Modi provides bicycles to girls in rural Indian villages so they can continue their education.
In some rural Indian villages, when boys completed grade seven, their family would buy them a bicycle to ensure they received a good education. With a bicycle, the commute to the high school would only be fifteen minutes. However, when girls completed grade seven they would not receive bicycles and would have to walk an hour each way to school. Learn how having a bicycle allows girls to continue their education in rural India.
Viola Vaughn developed a non-profit organization, "10,000 Girls," providing education and training for young women of Senegal, Africa. She has devoted her life to helping others achieve, empowering young girls to make a difference. The goal of 10,000 Girls is to provide both education and business training to girls throughout Africa.
Mrs. Viola Vaughn runs "10,000 Girls," a project in Senegal, Africa, which aims to help girls in education and vocational training.
Viola Vaughn founded an organization that supports girls working to achieve academic success in Africa.
In India, Educate Girls works to make education accessible to girls, mobilizing communities to help girls achieve their full potential.
India has the highest number of girls out of school and the highest number of child brides than anywhere on the planet. In many rural villages in India, a critical gender gap exists. Educate Girls has created an army working towards equal access to education for girls.
2. How have the groups featured in these films addressed the challenges to education girls face?
3. Do you know of any other people or organizations working to address issues that may be preventing girls from receiving an education? Who are they? Share their story with MY HERO.
Learning Outcomes
Students will develop critical thinking skills as they discuss the barriers girls around the world face regarding education. They will evaluate obstacles that impact the girls' ability to go to school. Students are encouraged to create an action plan.
Use the multimedia resource showcase link to learn more about John Lewis who dedicated his life to advancing human rights and civil liberties.
Use the multimedia showcase link below to learn more about Nelson Mandela, South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and human rights activist who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
Child Slavery
Students read the story and analyze the art about Iqbal Masih, a child from Pakistan who was sold into slavery by his father when he was 4 and escaped slavery at the age of 10. He began speaking internationally and was awarded the Reebok Human Rights Youth Award when he was 12 years old.
Iqbal Masih was a brave advocate for child labor laws in Pakistan.
Iqbal Masih was a Pakistani Christian boy who became a symbol of abusive child labour in the developing world
Vivienne Harr founded Make a Stand Lemon-aid to raise fund for organizations that fight child slavery.
Young Vivienne Harr was deeply affected by the story of children suffering from human trafficking. So she founded Make a Stand Lemon-aid to raise fund for organizations that fight child slavery.
Students watch the following film and read the story to learn about Vivienne Harr who, at the age of 8, founded Make a Stand Lemon-Aid to raise funds for organizations that fight child slavery.
Peace Activist
Students read the story about Samantha Smith, a grade school student and peace activist. Then analyze the portrait by Robert Shetterly, noticing the text used in the portrait.
Story about Samantha Smith.
Samantha Reed Smith (June 29, 1972 – August 25, 1985) was an American girl who became known as "America's Youngest Ambassador" in the United States and the "Goodwill Ambassador" in the Soviet Union during her short lifetime.
She wrote : "If we could be friends by just getting to know each other better, then what are our countries really arguing about? Nothing could be more important than not having a war if a war could kill everything."
Grade school student and peace activist, (1972 - 1985) Samantha was just 10 years old when she wrote the premier of the Soviet Union to ask him about his intentions for waging war. Yuri Andropov invited her to visit the Soviet Union and the success of her trip launched a 3 year odyssey of traveling the world, advocating for peace. Tragically, she and her father were killed in a plane wreck while returning home after one of their numerous peace missions.
Great for ESL/EFF Students: the Following Stories are Available in Text and Audio so Students Can Listen & Read Along
Bilaal Rajan is the founder of Making Change Now and Canada's child ambassador to UNICEF.
One of the most important heroes in the fight against segregation in America was a six-year-old girl, Ruby Nell Bridges.
Ana Dodson formed Peruvian Hearts to provide Peruvian orphans an education.
2. How are these activists examples of how one person can make a difference regardless of his or her age? What issues did you feel a connection to and why?
3. Who are young activists in your own community making a difference? Share their story with MY HERO.
4. What are important issues facing your community or the world that you feel passionate about? What can you do? Create an action plan, get others involved and share your story with MY HERO.
Students Analyze the Hero Art Below:
How do each of these artists portray the strength of their social justice hero?
Consider creating a portrait of your hero, or a poster honoring someone working toward a social justice solution to submit to MY HERO.
Global leader in advocating equality, compassion and justice for all
Incorruptible: In his fight for equality among races in South Africa, Nelson Mandela is a hero for generations.
Canonized as a Saint for her work with the victims of extreme poverty
Students can share their Hero Essays, Films and Art through our Create Program
How to use MY HERO's Create Program to Publish Stories, Art, Film and Audio for Students
Tutorial for students: Publish written stories, film, original artwork and audio in MY HERO's multimedia library.
Outstanding essays submitted to MY HERO will be considered for a certificate/t-shirt prize or be featured on the Story Homepage.
Submit your artwork to be entered in the MY HERO art contest or to be exhibited on our Gallery Homepage.
Students can submit their films for free with a waiver to the MY HERO International Film Festival.
How to Organize Your Students' Published Work
Multimedia Resources and Lesson Plan for Elementary, Middle and High School Students. Includes discussion guide and learning outcomes.
Share the importance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.
For Additional Resources and Lesson Plans, Go to the MY HERO Lesson Plan Center
Learn about a New Hero Every Day of the Year: Use the MY HERO Calendar in the Classroom
Organizer created on 6/22/2021 4:30:37 PM by Laura Nietzer
Last edited 7/19/2021 11:44:57 AM by Laura Nietzer
