Minto-Clifford PS celebrates social justice initiatives with activist Spencer West
May 20, 2016
A school filled with passionate activists had a visit from a world renowned activist today, who shared his story of perseverance.
On Friday, Minto-Clifford Public School hosted Spencer West as part of a celebration of the school’s social justice initiatives over the years.
The event was organized by Free the Children and the Me to We leaders of Minto-Clifford PS. It was a day to recognize the dedication to social justice the school, the Me to We team and the greater Minto community has exhibited in the last five years.
As a member of Free the Children’s Speakers Bureau, West spoke to students, motivating and celebrating them while sharing his own story of reaching massive goals through hard work and dedication.
West is an activist, author and star of the documentary Redefine Possible: The Story of Spencer West. He lost both his legs from the pelvis down when he was five years old. Rather than let the world defeat him, he tackled challenge after challenge, while “learning to navigate in a world set against those with disabilities.” In 2012, he climbed and summited Mount Kilimanjaro using his hands and wheelchair. In 2013, he trekked from Edmonton to Calgary (a 300 km journey) on his hands and in his wheelchair. West has travelled the world, speaking to audiences of all kinds – teaching student and corporate audiences alike the lessons he learned on his personal journey.
Over the years, the students of Minto-Clifford have also overcome challenges to reach their goals.
The entire school is committed to the We Act program, which challenges youth to identify issues in their community and globally that spark their passion and empowers them to take action.
More than 400 staff and students at the school participate regularly in a variety of awareness campaigns and fundraising activities, including coin drives, used book sales, candy cane sales and more. The school has a core group of 20 to 30 students who function as the Me to We leadership team. They meet weekly to discuss social justice issues, plan events, write morning announcements, speak at assemblies and more.
In the last five years, the school has completed a number of projects through the Adopt a Village program, including Clean Water & Sanitation in Haiti, Education in Kenya, Alternative Income in India, and this year, Health Care in Rural China.
The school acts locally as well, running coin drives, collecting donations for the local food banks, holding monthly bullying awareness days, winter clothing drives, local visits to nursing homes and more.
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For more information:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
[email protected]
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