Public Achievement
Public Achievement is an international and innovative approach to improving academic achievement and creating a positive school
culture in Denver Public School. The University of Denver's PA program fosters leadership skills in DU and K-12 students
to address the issues in their community in a meaningful and academic way.
As a PA Coach, DU students act as facilitators to teams of K-12 students. Together the teams follow a community organizing
process that starts with building relationships among the entire team. The teams then work to identify issues that they care
about within their schools and communities and conduct community-based research. The culminating product is a public work
(service-learning) project to address the issue they identified.
Detailed Program Description
2011-12 PA Coach Application
Coaches for the 2011-12 year should plan to attend the Community Organizing Training on September 30th and the 2nd Annual
PA Coaches Training Retreat, October 1-2, 2011.
Resources
PA Project Stories at DU
PA Curriculum
PA Coach Reflections
National Website
School-based Civic Engagement
CCESL also supports a variety of after-school, academic enrichment programs through our school-based civic engagement partnerships.
The goal behind these programs is to build positive relationships between DU and various K-12 DPS partners with the hopes
that we can eventually expand partnership to include the Public Achievement program at these sites.
To learn about additional opportunities in schools and get connected check out our School Partners page.
Manuel Del Real
DU Student, Class of 2009 and 2011
Every time I look at the murals, it gives me great pride as an alumnus to be able to see students make a change...Being a coach has also helped me realize I am the mentor that I used to look up to.
Hava Gordon
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology
Last year, I taught a Service Learning FSEM: "Youth Cultures: Inequality, Resistance, and Empowerment." This was the first time teaching my FSEM as a service learning class, and it was an amazing experience. With the help of my wonderful Service Learning Associate, Cameron Lewis, our class partnered with "The Spot" youth center and Rainbow Alley. Both organizations work to empower teens by providing a safe and creative space for low-income, homeless, and LGBTQ youth. FSEM students joined outreach workers at The Spot on night walks around the city, distributing needed items to homeless youth. Students also participated in consciousness-raising workshops at Rainbow Alley, connecting with Rainbow Alley youth through these workshops."
Emelyne Neff
Coach at Bruce Randolph School
PA is a chance to live outside the DU bubble and to build strong, powerful relationships with young people thirsting for truth, justice and freedom...I can't get enough of if it. The changes on an individual and group level are tangible and beautiful. I feel like I'm making a difference and am the recipient of change as much as an agent of change.
