| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 55.33 |
| Liaison | Rachael Rost-Allen |
| Submission Date | Feb. 15, 2022 |
Johnson County Community College
IN-50: Innovation D
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
0.50 / 0.50 |
Kristy
Wittman Howell Sustainability Education and Engagement Coordinator Center for Sustainability |
Name or title of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome that outlines how credit criteria are met and any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation:
In 2019, in a partnership between the Center for Sustainability, Arts Education, and Student Life, JCCC hosted freestyle rap artist and zero-waste activist Joey Feinstein – performing as Joey FineRhyme – in a series of student events and sold-out, face-to-face shows for area school children. Joey's program, called Be The Change, combines freestyle rap with messages about protecting the environment and leading change for a more sustainable future. We had plans to continue the programming in 2020, but safety concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic made those plans impossible.
During the 2019 shows, Joey had a colleague record several of the live offerings, which he was able to cut together into a recording that featured the educational content of his regular performances. JCCC promoted the free virtual show as an opportunity for teachers to provide a field trip of sorts for their students, complete with an interactive component to address student questions, discuss a variety of topics related to sustainability (including students’ fears during the pandemic) and to recreate some of the feeling of live theatre. To accomplish this, Joey and Kristy Howell, of the Center for Sustainability at JCCC, engaged in a question and answer session with the students, played recycling trivia, and closed out the hour-long presentation with a freestyle rap where students could use the chat feature to suggest sustainability-related words Joey then incorporated into his rhymes.
Since the summer of 2019, nearly 1000 students have participated in the virtual opportunity, and the events were so successful during the early lockdown days of the pandemic that teachers are still asking for the virtual option in 2021. While we all look forward to returning to live theatre, the virtual option afforded students an opportunity to engage with sustainability professionals in a much more personal setting, and many disclosed their fears about climate change and their futures in ways they might not have had the chance to in a bigger venue.
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise or a press release or publication featuring the innovation :
The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Joey's website is here: http://www.joeyfinerhyme.com/
The top photo is of Joey in one of his 2019 shows at JCCC.
Joey's website is here: http://www.joeyfinerhyme.com/
The top photo is of Joey in one of his 2019 shows at JCCC.
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