By Jared Curtis

Millions of high school students spend their days studying the basic pillars of knowledge — reading, writing and arithmetic. Students at Scavo Campus, located at 1800 Grand Ave., study these subjects as well, but a few also gain real life work experience by being involved in the Neighborhood Revival and the Des Moines Works and Learns classes, taught by art and family consumer sciences teachers Ellen Robinson and Suzet Nelson.

“These classes offer students a real world experience and connect them to the community through their artistic endeavors,” said Director of Secondary Alternative Education at Scavo Campus, Dr. Anita Micich. “The classes afford students the opportunity to bring relevance to their learning. If you ask them what they are learning about, I believe they would tell you it is much more than just learning to draw or paint. It is about life.”

This is the third year these programs have been in place. On Monday and Wednesday, as well as every other Friday, classes meet and work on projects focused on re-using and recycling materials, creating art and giving back to the community.

“The whole idea got started with environmental issues,” Robinson said. “We are acting locally but thinking globally.”

Robinson and Nelson are passionate about their students. Both classes work on multiple projects, some lasting a few days, others an entire school year. But they share the same goal of building a brighter tomorrow for future generations.

“We are here to give back to our neighborhoods,” Nelson said. “We don’t want to be takers. It’s important for the students to focus and give back what they can.”

Neighborhood Revitalization class
The Neighborhood Revitalization class focuses on more art related projects — refurbishing and reupholstering furniture, painting murals and anything construction related. Projects have included murals painted at Greenwood Park, Uncle Sam’s Childcare, the federal courthouse, United Way offices, Lighthouse Homeless Youth Shelter, Scavo Campus, Callanan Middle School, the Des Moines Public School main office and the Polk County Courthouse.

“I think the classes offer students a connection to our community, providing them the opportunity to have an impact on where they live,” said Scavo Campus Dean of Students Rich Blonigan. “It’s a learning experience that has long lasting effect on them as students and citizens. This is an opportunity that many students don’t have and experience that will help our kids as a whole. Students see that what they do is important, appreciated and ties them to the community. They get a sense of what it is to give back and to make a difference.”

Students receive a high school credit and time towards community service hours and choose their own assignments and projects.

“I love the class,” said junior Kayla Hanlin, 16. “We can express our creativity, while going out into the community and helping. Both teachers are very open minded and care about us and the projects we are working on.”

Every class period begins with students and teachers sitting in a circle, discussing ideas for upcoming projects and which projects need finished. Recently, the class has been sanding and repainting old window frames, painting floor and ceiling tiles, as well as working on items such as hubcaps and tree branches used to decorate school rooms.

“I enjoy working on the tree branches,” said junior Toffara Newman, 16. “We paint them a solid color and then add other colors to brighten them up. A lot of teachers hang them up when we are done. It brings a lot of color into their classrooms.”

More than anything, the students said they love the break from the books.

“I love it, this is a great escape from a traditional classroom,” said senior Erik Backstrom, 18. “We are always busy, but it is a very relaxed atmosphere. I think you learn a lot more by hands-on projects than just reading from a book.”

All of the materials used in these projects are either recycled or donated by businesses. One business, Carver Ace Hardware, offers more than just materials.

“We have to thank them so much,” Robinson said. “Not only have they donated materials, but they also offer us expert advice on our projects.”

One such project was the revitalizing the Scavo Campus building.

“It’s great, we get to paint on everything in the entire school,” said senior LaTeesha Dickens, 17. “I have never been to a school where you can paint on the ceiling.”

Almost every wall has some form of art on it, from murals to hanging items.

“Everything we do is permanent, nothing is temporary,” Robinson said. “It’s great for our past students because they can come back to the building and still see projects they worked on. It keeps them a part of our community.”

The class also does construction-based work. Last April, students worked at the former Science Center of Iowa building in Greenwood Park, ripping up old carpet and cleaning it. They also painted a large mural outside the main doors.

“With everything we do, we try to connect the kids with their community,” Nelson said. “It also involves problem solving and awareness of their surroundings.”

Robinson actually took her program to New York, where she spoke at the American Institute of Architects.

“From what I know, we are the only high school program like this in the nation,” she said. “I encourage every school to start a program like this. If people want help getting started, we will travel.”

Des Moines Works and Learns class
The second class that Robinson and Nelson teach is the Des Moines Works and Learns class, which helps better the community in a different way than the Neighborhood Revitalization option. Students work on projects within a mile radius of Scavo Campus, which includes walking tours and lessons about the history of neighborhoods, studying architecture and learning what it takes to keep a neighborhood and community together.

“A lot of kids didn’t even know Hoyt Sherman Place existed,” said Nelson, adding the class does a lot of volunteer work for Hoyt Sherman Place, and it doesn’t go unappreciated.

“It’s a wonderful experience and a great opportunity for the students,” said Executive Secretary of the Des Moines Women’s Club Kathi Fieldsend. “She [Robinson] weaves the history of the building around any project they are helping us with. Her perspective is that we are all caretakers of historical venues. Plus the students get to explore the building from an art perspective.”

The students help with several tasks including polishing the brass, pulling gum up from the floor of the theater and picking up trash inside and outside.

“We like to get the students involved in hands on activities,” Nelson said. “They are doing real work with a real impact.”

The class work goes beyond Hoyt. In the past, students have worked with neighboring businesses like G&L Clothing and Quick Trip, sweeping up the parking lots, picking up trash and keeping the neighborhood looking beautiful.

“It’s amazing the motivation and dedication of the students,” Nelson said. “They’re not afraid to walk in the freezing cold to get to a project.”

The class tries to limit its work to school hours only, but with some projects students have volunteered their time on weekends and at night.

“It’s not like a regular class,” said senior Casey Turner, 17. “You’re out of a classroom environment and learning through experience.”

Those real-life experiences, administrators said, make the class popular with students.

“I believe they are learning that they each have a contribution to make to the community and the importance of developing the practice of giving back as a young adult,” said Micich.

For Robinson, it’s just the same thing she has been doing most of her life.

“I’ve been doing community-based art in Des Moines for 20 years, and I realized I wanted my students involved,” she said. “The biggest need for kids is a feeling like they belong.”

Robinson said that the classes are always in need of materials and projects. She welcomes donations and encourages the public to stop by, check out some of their past work and pitch ideas for new projects. They can call her at 242-7589.

“You ask for it, and we can do it,” she said. “It’s all about creating quality lives, living and contributing artfully. Art is the natural human response to life’s exceptional moments.” CV

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