Teen Day of Social Action

Photo Essay: Teen Day of Social Action

The Teen Day of Social Action started early on a Sunday morning, before most self-respecting teenagers (or college photojournalists) would want to be awake. As the volunteers began setting out food for breakfast, bleary-eyed teenagers started trickling in, grabbing bagels and cream cheese off of the tables at the back of the Milwaukee Jewish Day School’s cafeteria. Soon, the room was filled with kids wearing bright orange shirts, with the logo and motto of the first annual Teen Day of Social action printed across the chest: “Fill the Need.”
After most of the teenagers registered in the commons, they found seats in the cafeteria. First, two of the organizers of the day spoke, explaining the importance of social action and its strong link to Judaism to the assembled kids. The teens soon found themselves considering their own beliefs and opinions about poverty, when they were asked to decide whether or not they agreed with a certain statement, read by an organizer. Some of the kids volunteered to explain their opinions to the group.
After a Torah-study session with Rabbi Shlomo Levin, the teenagers split into two groups for more learning activities. One group held a discussion. The other group trooped into the dimly-lit gym for an activity on hunger.
Soon, it was time for lunch. The teens hurriedly ate kosher burritos, before they split into small groups for the culmination of the program: volunteering.
My group went to Meta House, a facility for women with substance abuse problems, where they can live with their children while receiving treatment. We brought a bag full of art supplies, and another bag with pretzels to share with the residents and their children. The teens hid the art supplies in Meta House’s playroom, and the residents’ children had a great time searching for glitter glue, pipe cleaners, markers, and paper. When the supplies were all found, we headed back to the conference room to make collages, eat cookies and pretzels, and hear the residents’ stories.
All too soon, the day was over. The girls said goodbye to the residents at Meta House, and climbed back on the bus. We exchanged information, in the hopes that we can organize a return trip to Meta House in the near future.




The first annual Teen Day of Social Action, sponsored by the Coalition for Jewish Learning and Tikkun Ha-Ir of Milwaukee, started bright and early on Sunday, April 2. Jewish teenagers from around Milwaukee signed up to attend the program, which included speakers and interactive activities about social action.


When registering for the event, each teen got to choose a card with the name of an agency on it. In the afternoon, the kids would go to the agency that they chose, to volunteer.



A teenager who attended the program registers with one of the adult volunteers, and decides at which agency she will volunteer in the afternoon.


The teens participate in an activity that allows them to express their opinions on poverty, its causes, and its solutions. A statement was read, and the teens responded by walking to one of three sides of the room: agree, disagree, and unsure. Then, each group had an opportunity to discuss why they felt the way they did.


After listening to some speakers, many of the teens participated in a program by Hunger Task force, which is designed to simulate the difficulties of buying nutritious food on a very tight budget. Each teen was assigned the situation of a real-life Hunger Task Force client, and had to buy food based on that situation. Here, one teen visits volunteer David Baruch's table, where he attempts to get services that will allow him to "buy" food.


The Hunger Task Force demonstration used money like this, which the teens had to tender for food cards. In addition, some teens were able to get mock food stamps, which they could also use to buy food cards. The food they bought had to feed their assigned family, and had to meet certain dietary requirements.


After a quick lunch, the teens split into groups to go to volunteer sites. Here, Lauren Wasserman and Lindsay Gorelick goof off for the camera, on the way to Meta House, a center for women recovering from substance abuse, where they can stay with their children.


(From left) Lindsay, Eliana, Elise, Ari, and Lauren sit on the couch at Meta House, after a hard five minutes of setting up our art project for the residents. (Not pictured: Rachel)



The teens help Meta House participents and their children with a collage. The pipecleaners were a big hit, as everyone loved making shapes and little springs out of them, to glue on the paper.