BREAKTHOUGH LA CREATES MVM: PEAK PERFORMANCE: SOCCER STEAM SUMMER CAMP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LAFC FOUNDATION, USC DORNSIFE DEPARTMENT OF EXPERIENCE AND APPLIED LEARNING AND USC BIO-MECHANICS LAB

Produced in partnership with the LAFC Foundation, USC Dornsife Department of Experiential and Applied Learning, the USC Biomechanics Lab and with the generous support of Tara Guber and LAFC Foundation, Breakthrough LA presented a five-day STEAM themed summer program for 20 South LA students on June 24-28 that uses the My Voice Matters (MVM) methods and experiential-based learning techniques, giving the opportunity to teachers to prepare for the 2019-2020 academic year and to students to acquire content, experiences and tools to achieve excellence in sports and life.

Founded by education philanthropist Tara Guber, My Voice Matters (MVM)  activates and supports student Voice and Agency through student- based inquiry using the tools of journalism, experiential learning, media, creative writing, storytelling, presentation and publication to engage and inspire students at risk who are performing well below their grade level. MVM targets and increases “media fluency” – the capacity and ability to communicate and share information, ideas and concepts in a variety of media in an emotionally engaging, effective and productive manner, even within a resistant context.

The program had two main components:

Teachers training and professional development:these were morning sessions that were led by the MVM Program Director, George Sanchez and by Michelle Swanson, a nationally recognized project-learning education and curriculum design expert. These sessions provided the participating four teachers from Lennox Middle School and The Accelerated School with lesson plans and calendar preparation for the upcoming academic year, with deeper understanding of the core framework of the MVM method, and with the opportunity to observe applications of the methodology in the afternoon trainings.

Students program:20 sixth-grade students from Lennox Middle School and The Accelerated School participated in the afternoon sessions which explored and presented the various components of soccer. In addition to the opportunity to immerse themselves in academic environment at USC, students were able to participate in highest-quality activities provided by the USC Biomechanics Lab and Professors Lorraine Turcotte and Jill McNitt-Gray. With the help of the participating PhD and undergraduate students, the MVM students were able to explore applications of aerodynamics in soccer, as well as nutrition as a fuel. Thanks to the generous partnership of the LAFC Foundation, students received the rare opportunity to tour the Banc of California Stadium and to interview few employees of the stadium, which gave them an insight into the business of soccer and management of a football team. During the final celebration, students received certificates of completion from their Program Director, George Sanchez.

Breakthrough LA / MVM Founder Tara Guber states, “All meaningful learning and success in life is based on connecting with your inner Voice and having the skills and confidence to share that Voice with your friends, family, school, community and the world. MVM gives students the tools and mentor support to fins and activate their voice during Middle School, the most critical time to develop positive learning behaviors.”

Benefits –The most important accomplishment of the program is that its success can serve as a model for continuation of the partnership between BREAKTHROUGH LA, the LAFC Foundation and USC Dornsife EAL. The participating teachers expressed their gratitude and desire to continue with this partnership, since it provides them with support and professional training that they cannot otherwise receive.

MVM Program Director George Sanchez states, “Our partner teachers and principals at Accelerated and Lennox Middle School tell us that the MVM Summer Program provided important continuity of learning experiences for students during the summer when the context and content of learning is difficult to maintain over the summer break. MVM Peak Performance not only enhanced students learning over the past year but inspired and motivated them to be ready to learn in the Fall.”

In terms of the larger impact on the students, this partnership and the program demonstrated to young students that they can believe in themselves, continue to explore and cultivate their talents, curiosity and voice, and that their aspirations will be supported and encouraged by their teachers and the MVM Program. The LAFC Foundation and USC demonstrated to these young people that they are committed to their success and to providing them with more opportunities to realize their potential.

Tanmara Anderson, Associate Dean of USC Department of Experiential and Applied Learning states, “Tara Guber and MVMs vision for student Voice and their focus on providing a “Toolkit for Lifelong Learning” based in positive learning behaviors and methods in in full alignment with the mission of XL and we are proud to continue to support and collaborate with this visionary and effective program.”