Every year, the UACHS seniors undertake a year-long initiative known as the Doc Your Block project, which aims to foster community engagement, aligned with the school’s mission of “Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders Today.” If you would like to support these dedicated students through donations, volunteering, or if you work with an organization related to their projects, please reach out to English teacher Mr. Gurbisz ([email protected]) or Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Chenelle ([email protected]). Your involvement can make a meaningful difference in their efforts to address vital community issues. See details about some of the projects below.

Topic: Youth Lack of Self-Assurance and Readiness for High School and Beyond. This group intends to visit their former middle school and give presentations to the seventh and eighth graders about their high school experiences and what to anticipate. They hope to encourage the youth to feel more confident and prepared for their future. 

How you can help: They are seeking opportunities to volunteer at a middle school or with a high school-readiness or mental health group. They also are looking for community volunteers to speak to UACHS students and/or be interviewed about their personal experiences and feelings about high school before, during, and after their time there, as well as how they have changed. They are also looking for ways in which they can mentor and provide support to younger people. 

Topic: Stray Animals. They aim to assist abandoned animals in finding homes and receiving shelter. They are eager to volunteer their time to care for the animals in these shelters.

How you can help: They request the community's support to establish connections with shelters or rescue groups that will allow them to interact directly with the animals. Their goal is to raise awareness about this issue and motivate individuals to adopt pets instead of purchasing them. Additionally, they wish to help generate funds to support animal shelters.

Topic: Gang Violence Effects on Mental Health. This group aims to help people who have been around or part of gang violence get the help they need for their mental health. They also aim to provide support and resources to help individuals recover from the trauma associated with gang violence. 

How you can help: They request assistance in accessing counseling services and creating safe spaces for open dialogue, which will hopefully foster healing and resilience within the community. This is especially important for people who can not afford to seek help like counseling.

Doc Your Block has been a year-long capstone service learning project for seniors at UACHS since the 2008-2009 school year. The project begins with the identification of pressing problems within the community. Students engage in discussions, surveys, and observations to pinpoint issues that resonate with their peers and the larger community. Topics of focus this year include: teen mental health, the conditions of animal shelters, and the lack of confidence and preparation among youth for life after high school. Once these issues are identified, the seniors analyze and document their findings. This phase involves comprehensive research, interviews, and data collection, enabling student researchers to understand the root causes and implications of the challenges they face.

Armed with a deep understanding of these problems, the students collaboratively develop actionable plans. These plans outline specific goals, necessary resources, and the anticipated challenges they may encounter. The next phase involves implementing these plans in the community, whether through workshops, outreach programs, or community events. This hands-on engagement not only benefits the community but also fosters collaboration and support among peers.

Following their action steps, the students reflect on their efforts in an evaluation phase. They assess the effectiveness of their initiatives, contemplating successes, obstacles, and potential improvements for future endeavors. This reflective process enhances their learning and provides insight into the community's response.

The culmination of this project will be a presentation of their findings and action plans. Students will share their experiences and insights, inspiring others to contribute to positive change within the community.