In the summer of 2023, the Open Roads Changemakers Adventure provided a cohort of young Latina women from Ossining with an all-woman led summer wilderness adventure and a fall follow-up program to develop leadership skills, give a healthy dose of nature, and provide an introduction to the documentary arts as tools for igniting positive social change. Participants returned home ready to use their voice to help empower others in their community.

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The program offered 12 young Latina women, selected for their innate leadership potential, with an immersive travel experience in nature that was aligned with an ongoing academic program centered on developing the student’s voice as leaders, their self-efficacy, and their sense of belonging in the school community.

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The Changemakers’ Program began with pre-trip seminars to prepare the participants for the trip and to introduce the fundamentals of positive social change and personal growth. In the summer, the participants embarked on a weeklong adventure into nature, including a four-day river trip through the Gates of Lodore Canyon on Utah's Green River -- one of our country’s most awe-inspiring wilderness areas. This journey delivered rare moments of peace and quiet to exhale, to reflect on our lives through journal writing and intentional conversations, and to discover new ways to become authors of our own life story through the documentary arts of film and photography.

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"It was awe-inspiring to witness the girls embrace nature's challenges and learn to adapt with grace. Their creativity flourished amidst the breathtaking landscapes, and I'm excited to see how their experiences manifest in their artistic projects."

 

- Ms Lin, Ossining Teachers / Open Roads trip mentor

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All of this set the stage for the fall's school-sponsored coursework which includes projects designed to guide participants through the process of actualizing their intended goals toward social change. This blend of school-centered coursework and large-scale experiential learning is inspiring a dramatic shift in the participants’ sense of voice and  agency as changemakers The program culminates with a public presentation of the student's work from the summer, and with each participant having an opportunity to vocalize their Statement of Intent for the change they want to bring to their community.

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"The Open Roads program not only allowed the girls to bond as a team but also empowered them to overcome obstacles with confidence. The lessons they learned about teamwork, leadership, and cultural appreciation are invaluable."

 

- Ms. Barajas, Ossining Teachers / Open Roads trip mentor

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READ MORE ABOUT THE TRIP HERE:

"OSSINING HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS EMBRACE ADVENTURE"

 

TRIP RECAP FILM COMING SOON!