On each trip, students develop plans to effect change in their schools and communities at
home. The students create their plans based on the lessons they have learned in nonviolence
and racial tolerance. Some of these "direct action plans" from this year's sojourns are
listed below.
Aragon High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Increase Respect Between Adults and students on Campus
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Create a survey to be given to adults and students on campus about respect.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Share information collected from the survey with the faculty and administration. The
presentation will also include students sharing their experiences in relation to respect or lack
thereof on campus.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet weekly to create survey and talk to administration in order to get their support.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Meet with principal to explain the purpose of the survey and presentation. Meet with teachers
in order to share student perceptions and experiences.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create, administer and tally the results of a campus-wide survey about respect.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Increase respect on campus, specifically between adults and students.
back to top
Belmont High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Change the Tardy Policy
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Ask questions of administrators and school board about the current policy.
Create a campus where individuals are not targeted
Stop being a silent witness and make other students aware.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Share information about the current policy and offer alternatives that benefit everyone.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Create a planning committee to meet once a week.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Explain the issue and inform people of why we want a change.
Have a list of alternative ideas.
Hold a practice period with the new policy.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Petitions, flyers and letters.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
A new tardy policy that benefits students, teachers and administrators.
back to top
Burlingame High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Register High School Students to Vote
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Collect information about the issues that directly affect teens.
Collect information about the people who died so that we may vote..
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
We will coordinate with the faculty to do school presentations. By building allies we will be
able to reach students.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet on Tuesdays at lunch in room 66.
Our t asks will include, researching people and issues, making videos, gathering resources and making contacts.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Convince the faculty to let us do our presentations.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
We plan to make presentations to senior Government and Economics classes.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Takes power and returns it to the people.
back to top
Capuchino High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Educate Fellow Students About Hateful Language
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Talk to Mills students about their GSA Club
Get statistics and definitions.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Administer polls before and after activities to see if there is change.
Talk to other students and schools.
Start out small with individual conversations.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Hold Sojourn club meetings. Publicize meetings.
Create our own club constitution.
Enforce zero tolerance among ourselves.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Create time at meetings for others to come and talk.
Hold debates with supervision to discuss issues.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create posters, flyers, skits and hold meetings.
Invite guest speakers.
Write letters to parents to inform them.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
After information is around campus, continue to check back with students about their
experiences..
back to top
Carlmont High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Increase Awareness on Campus about Youth Violence in order to decrease
fights at school
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Find information online or through community organizations about youth violence and prevention..
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Educate students through newsletter.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Create a club S.A.V. (Students Against Violence) and meet weekly.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Get support from the administration and the ASB.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create a newspaper with articles about youth violence and prevention strategies.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Reduce the number of fights on campus.
back to top
Culver City High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Create an atmosphere on campus Where students feel safe and Respected by their teachers
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Create a teacher evaluation about the issues of respect and the treatment of students. Allow teachers and students to use the survey each semester..
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Educate the teachers about students feel about the way they are treated and about the
classroom atmosphere. Educate students about why this is important.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet every other Thursday in room 36 at lunch.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Talk to our principal about doing a presentation at the faculty meeting in April. Conduct the
survey in May and share the information from the survey to the faculty.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Conduct the survey and compile the information.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Create a better classroom environment where students feel safe and not discriminated against.
back to top
Dorsey High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Inform Students of Their College and Graduation Requirements
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
We want to assure that students know what grades and classes they need to graduate or go to college.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
We need to meet with deans, parents and the college career center and ask for their help in
getting the word out. We need more frequent repetition of the information.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Weekly meetings will be held to discuss our progress and new ideas.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
We will talk with the deans to get help in spreading the information. We need to convince the
deans that we can and will make a change. We will continue to come up with intelligent ideas.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Pass out flyers for every classroom and hold rallies to get the information out to all students.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Our school population will have a higher graduation rate and college acceptance rate.
back to top
East Palo Alto High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: To Embrace Differences and Similarities
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Brainstorm issues on our campus. For example, racism, communication between races, racial tension between races, arguments and fights, gang affiliations, gang violence, racial violence, pregnancy, sex education, and how school is portrayed to the community.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Educate others about the issues of racism and violence and build allies. Ideas include;
seminars with guest speakers, student speakers/narratives, community members as
speakers or performances.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet at lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 15. Share the Sojourn experience with others.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Make proposal to administration, teachers and students.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create a series of seminars about racism and violence prevention.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Our school will begin to understand each other and to accept diversity which will ultimately
lead us to portray ourselves in a positive way to the community.
back to top
Ida B. Wells High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Hold a March to City Hall to Gain Support for Sojourn to the Past
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Research about speakers and the permits we would need to have.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Create flyers and posters to pass out at community centers and churches. Create t-shirts to
spread the word.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meetings will be every Wednesday.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Talk to City Hall, possible speakers and community leaders.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
March to City Hall to gain support for Sojourn.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Get people involved in the trip to learn about themselves and their purpose in life.
back to top
Menlo Atherton High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Register Students to Vote and Educate Students about Political Parties
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Collect information about the political parties and find out why students do not register.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Talk to our administration about doing a voter education drive.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Making sure we stay with it by having continuous meetings.
Even if it’s only the six of us, we’ll keep going.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Find out if there is any opposition and why they oppose us.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Hold a voter registration booth at lunch and during the Spring Carnival. Have candidate packets available for people so that they know more about the candidates. Make Bear News
Announcements about voting.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Students who have recently turned eighteen are usually the ones not signing up fast enough to
vote and that is a shame.
back to top
Mills High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Educate Fellow Students About Racism
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Educate Ourselves.
Send a representative to other clubs.
Define the problem.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Hold rallies and private assemblies to inform students.
Write newspaper articles.
Individual discussions and conversations
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Do work outside of the committee by branching out to other people.
Don’t be a silent witness.
Try to understand were people are coming from.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Share specific stories.
Respect others and agree to disagree.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Hold a school rally.
Create a mural to educate others.
Hold peer to peer workshops.
Poetry Slam.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Hopefully make people aware of the effects of racism and to stop hateful language.
back to top
Oceana High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Interest Students in Learning
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Share information collected from the survey with the faculty and administration. The
presentation will also include students sharing their experiences in relation to respect or lack
thereof on campus.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet weekly to create survey and talk to administration in order to get their support.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Meet with principal to explain the purpose of the survey and presentation.
Meet with teachers in order to share student perceptions and experiences.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create, administer and tally the results of a campus-wide survey about respect.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Increase respect on campus, specifically between adults and students.
back to top
Prep for Prep — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Fundraising and promotion for Sojourn
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
We plan to let other students know about Sojourn and raise money to help students go on
the trip.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
We will promote this through chapel, school assembly and school newspapers.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
We will stay in touch with one another through emails and phone calls.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Create a plan to give to our teachers, assembly coordinators, headmasters/mistresses.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Using fundraising techniques like raffles and yard sales to help others come on the trip.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
More people will understand and have a better idea of the Civil Rights Movement.
back to top
San Mateo High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: To Decrease words and actions that are hurtful by educating others through
posters, t-shirts and bumper stickers
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Create a survey and do an observational study.
Talk to our administrators.
Call local organizations for support.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Make announcements.
Contact leadership on campus.
Create a lunch-in.
Educate teachers and staff.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Hold club meetings.
Continue group contact.
Keep interest among selves through kind words.
Individual motivation.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Have private conversations with people who use hurtful language.
Do not get in people’s faces but educate them.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create posters, T-shirts and bumper stickers.
Seek dialogue with people who are stuck in using racist language.
Continue fundraising.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Create a campus where individuals are not targeted.
back to top
Santa Monica High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Registering Students to Vote at a Quad Rally
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Put together stories from movement, pictures of activists, voting organizations, statistics,
benefits of voting and flyers with information.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Talk to groups on campus to build allies, including; teachers, administrators, PALS, school
board, clubs, PTSA and site governance.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Hold regular club meetings at lunch in Mr. Felix’s room.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Get support from administration and other groups on campus.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Meet with students at lunch in their cliques to talk to them about being a Silent Witness. Ask
them to sign a pledge to not be a Silent Witness.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
We hope to raise voting percentages, improve our government, do something about a problem
if you don’t like it and be sure our voice is heard. “If you don’t vote, you don’t count.”.
back to top
Sequoia High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Teach every person at Sequoia what the phrase “Silent Witness” Means
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Focus on tensions behind racial and ethnic divisions.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Presentations, clubs, announcements, parent meetings, ASB, teachers.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meetings at lunch on Thursdays in Ms Ellerbee’s room, B1.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Negotiate with students, teachers and principal.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create posters, pins and flyers about “Silent Witness”. Present during school rally.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Start at home. If everyone knows what a “silent witness” means, it will force many to consider
their actions. Be the example!
back to top
SkyLine High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Inform as many People as we can about Silent Witnesses and Why You Shouldn’t
Be One
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Put together information about what it is to be a Silent Witness.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Inform teachers, students and administrators about our meetings and our plans to educate
others.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet regularly on campus. Don’t quit! Meet Mondays at lunch.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Talk to our principal, Ms. Hansen.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Meet with students at lunch in their cliques to talk to them about being a Silent Witness. Ask them to sign a pledge to not be a Silent Witness.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Hopefully, some students will choose not to be a Silent Witness.
back to top
South San Francisco High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Spread the Word about Nonviolence and the power of Language by Educating
through presentations, posters and t-shirts
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
The Dream Team would like to focus on non-violence issues and the power of language for our workshops.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
We decided to divide our group to focus on specific actions.
Workshops (power of language and power of non-violence)
Posters and daily quote announcement.
Broaden our Dream Team Club to include both members that have gone on the trip and
students who are just interested in Civil Rights
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Our Dream Team decided to continue our weekly meetings to plan our workshops and all the
other things that we want to do.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
We will get approval for our advisor (Mr. Gray), our principal and vice principal. We would also
like to send notices to teachers to give them a background on our workshops and why we are
doing it.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Attend Board meetings as well as our SITE Council meetings that school officials and teachers attend.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Our school has the opportunity to learn about issues that are really common at our school and
in our community. Educating them about the problems and issues may help to make a
positive change..
back to top
Terra Nova High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Get People to Register to Vote
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Brainstorm ideas to motivate students to register to vote. Create T-shirts and posters.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Start a Registration Booth at lunch. Use our posters and T-shirts to build awareness.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet in Ms. Fornasier’s classroom at lunch on Tuesdays. Make our own T-shirts and wear them every Tuesday.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Talk to teachers and principal about our Voter Registration Booth and about doing a
presentation in the government classes.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Wear our T-shirts every Tuesday. Do presentations about voting rights to the government
classes and pass out voter registration cards. Use our Voter Registration Booth to register
voters and to educate others about the political parties. Write weekly announcements.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Get young adults to understand the purpose of voting and get them to actually vote.
back to top
Trinity High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Bring more Awareness to Civil Rights on our campus
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Discuss goal of doing a presentation to the Dean of Students and to the Curriculum Committee.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Meet with principal, headmaster, dean of students and the curriculum Committee.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet at least two times together to prior to presentation date.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Try to convince the administration to let us do the assembly and to create an information
board at the school.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Conduct the presentation about civil rights and address the Curriculum Committee.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Overcome cynicism and have a more clear view of how activism is more accessible to them.
back to top
University High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Inform others about the effects of discrimination
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Survey students about their experiences.
Gather statistics.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Create a Diversity Club and have cultural parties.
Educate others about discrimination through posters and facts in the bulletin.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Hold meetings twice a month.
Practice what we preach.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Confront peers who engage in discrimination and help to educate them.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Hold Cultural Parties.
Educate others through posters and facts in the bulletin.
Create a school assembly to address discrimination.
Invite guest speakers.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Stop being a silent witness and make other students aware.
back to top
Washington High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Educate students and Teachers about racism
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Research and organize information about racism, civil rights and violence.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Speak with our principal about the need and the benefit of our presentation.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet at lunch time.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Submit dates and proposal to administration.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Present an assembly with a video to teachers and students about civil rights and racism.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Get teachers to teach more about civil rights and not just from the textbook.
back to top
Westmoor High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Awareness For Students on the issues of racism, voting Registration and
Budget Cuts
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Brainstorm together on issues in our school.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Hold presentations in our classes. Build allies; Ms. Litwin, Adam Chang and other teachers.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Attend S.A.Y. club meetings. Thursday in P4.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
For the issue of voting registration, target the seniors. For the issue of racism on campus and budget cuts target all students.
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Create and distribute flyers on the effects of racism. Create a voter registration drive.
Attend school board meeting and inform the board about our plans.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Successfully raise awareness on campus about racism and the importance of voter registration. Registered seniors to vote.
back to top
Woodside High School — DIRECT ACTION PLAN
Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change
GOAL: Create a Mural On Campus
STEP ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
Meet with clubs on campus and ask which issues they would like to represent on the mural. We would like to focus on diversity and nonviolence.
STEP TWO: EDUCATION
Talk to clubs to tell them about our idea. Meet with administration to get their approval.
STEP THREE: PERSONAL COMMITMENT
Meet weekly on Tuesdays at lunch. Try to get others to meet with us.
STEP FOUR: NEGOTIATIONS
Meet with Ms. Common and Ms. Mazzei
STEP FIVE: DIRECT ACTION
Meet with local business and ask for their support in buying paint. Create a design for the
mural and start painting.
STEP SIX: RECONCILIATION
Create a positive environment and educate others. “Let the spirit of history be your guide.”
back to top
