People of Public Achievement Public Achievement is public work. Like democracy, PA is the work of all citizens, and needs local involvement and talents of younger and older citizens to truly flourish. Public Achievement is public work. Like democracy, PA is the work of all citizens, and needs local involvement and talents of younger and older citizens to truly flourish. The people of PA are of all ages. They use their desires, insights and talents to address society’s problems and build a stronger community for all of us. The people of PA are of all ages. They use their desires, insights and talents to address society’s problems and build a stronger community for all of us.

A young person talking: “But when the government officials come to listen to us, they do most of the talking and don’t let us speak enough. They should listen more and let us ask difficult questions.” “But when the government officials come to listen to us, they do most of the talking and don’t let us speak enough. They should listen more and let us ask difficult questions.” The State of the World’s Children 2002 Unicef Publication

A young person talking: “Maybe they [families] want to listen and understand me, but they react so quickly to whatever I say that I decide to give up and next time not even start. So I tend to tell my problems to my friends, but they don’t have the experience to guide me.” “Maybe they [families] want to listen and understand me, but they react so quickly to whatever I say that I decide to give up and next time not even start. So I tend to tell my problems to my friends, but they don’t have the experience to guide me.” The State of the World’s Children 2002 Unicef Publication

A young person talking: “I like to live, and with all the problems in my life I look forward to another new year.” The State of the World’s Children 2002 Unicef Publication

A young person talking: “We want a world where there is no discrimination between boys and girls, between the able and the disabled, between the rich and the poor. We want a healthy, safe and clean environment suitable for all. And we want a decent education and opportunities for play, instead of having to work.” “We want a world where there is no discrimination between boys and girls, between the able and the disabled, between the rich and the poor. We want a healthy, safe and clean environment suitable for all. And we want a decent education and opportunities for play, instead of having to work.” The State of the World’s Children 2002 Unicef Publication

A young teacher with PA experience: “ I always knew I was included in the public, but the revolutionary idea for me was that I am expected to affect this public in a real and positive way. The public is in the hands of the public – so what shall we do?” (Bobbi Simpson) “ I always knew I was included in the public, but the revolutionary idea for me was that I am expected to affect this public in a real and positive way. The public is in the hands of the public – so what shall we do?” (Bobbi Simpson) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young person with PA experience: “ I recall that in the beginning of the semester, Dennis Donovan asked me if I wanted the power. I said no, because I did not know what to do with it. However, now I want the power because I believe I have the ability to help others who want to make a difference.” (Mona Abdel- Kerim) “ I recall that in the beginning of the semester, Dennis Donovan asked me if I wanted the power. I said no, because I did not know what to do with it. However, now I want the power because I believe I have the ability to help others who want to make a difference.” (Mona Abdel- Kerim) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young teacher with PA experience: “ In the past I’ve never viewed power without negative connotations. Now I do. This seminar has opened my eyes to the fact that power can be a beautiful thing, that it needs to exist to make change in a community.” (Michael Sonrode) “ In the past I’ve never viewed power without negative connotations. Now I do. This seminar has opened my eyes to the fact that power can be a beautiful thing, that it needs to exist to make change in a community.” (Michael Sonrode) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young teacher with PA experience: “When we began discussing power earlier this semester there were a lot of negative associations with the concept of power. We discussed things like only people with power have money or have done slimy things to achieve power, but now if you asked anyone in the seminar class, we would have consistently positive things to say. Through our common interests and determination we have become quite a powerful group of people with a powerful vision and goal of bringing young people in our community together.” (Danielle Peterson) “When we began discussing power earlier this semester there were a lot of negative associations with the concept of power. We discussed things like only people with power have money or have done slimy things to achieve power, but now if you asked anyone in the seminar class, we would have consistently positive things to say. Through our common interests and determination we have become quite a powerful group of people with a powerful vision and goal of bringing young people in our community together.” (Danielle Peterson) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young teacher with PA experience: “ It will be good for students to learn that there are many levels of power, and that while they may have little power on their own, if they can find others with the same interests, as a group they have much more power and can really affect changes in their world.” (Lisa Staplin) “ It will be good for students to learn that there are many levels of power, and that while they may have little power on their own, if they can find others with the same interests, as a group they have much more power and can really affect changes in their world.” (Lisa Staplin) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young teacher with PA experience: “I am excited to be a teacher and a coach who will be enthusiastic about young people’s power and who will help them to harness and use it to solve public problems.” (Danielle Peterson) “I am excited to be a teacher and a coach who will be enthusiastic about young people’s power and who will help them to harness and use it to solve public problems.” (Danielle Peterson) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young teacher with PA experience: “As a woman who likes to complain a lot, I know now that I can change the things that I feel in my community are unjust. I have also given the children in my classroom the idea of this core concept, which lead them to ideas about how they could get a working computer in our classroom. The process was long, and it took away from the curriculum, which upset my boss until she saw the K-5 children’s letters with reasons about why they wanted a working computer in their classroom, as well as ideas of how they could get one. We now have a brand-new functioning Imac computer in our classroom.” (Princess Titus) “As a woman who likes to complain a lot, I know now that I can change the things that I feel in my community are unjust. I have also given the children in my classroom the idea of this core concept, which lead them to ideas about how they could get a working computer in our classroom. The process was long, and it took away from the curriculum, which upset my boss until she saw the K-5 children’s letters with reasons about why they wanted a working computer in their classroom, as well as ideas of how they could get one. We now have a brand-new functioning Imac computer in our classroom.” (Princess Titus) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001

A young teacher with PA experience: “It’s like I know that I am free, but more than that I fully understand that no one can stand in my way or stop me once I am on a mission. Too long I have waited for others to right wrongs that I may see, but, through Public Achievement, I realize that I am free to act on the issue at my own will... I have the freedom to ask questions and expect them to be answered.” (Bobbi Simpson) “It’s like I know that I am free, but more than that I fully understand that no one can stand in my way or stop me once I am on a mission. Too long I have waited for others to right wrongs that I may see, but, through Public Achievement, I realize that I am free to act on the issue at my own will... I have the freedom to ask questions and expect them to be answered.” (Bobbi Simpson) Listening to the Students’ Voices Michael Kuhne, 2001