Cultivating Culture: One Clean-Up at a Time - Aleah's Advocacy Project

The A+ Student VOICES Team (SVT) is a group of passionate high school students dedicated to making a positive impact in their school communities. These student advocates work on various projects to address student needs and improve the education system for themselves and their peers. One member, Aleah, has taken a significant step to enhance her school’s campus facilities.

Aleah noticed that many of her classmates and community members held negative opinions about her school. School culture was one of the key issues discussed during an SVT meeting earlier this year. Recognizing that school culture directly affects students' ability to learn and thrive, Aleah decided it was time for action. On April 22nd, she organized an “Earth Day” event at her school, offering her peers a chance to use their teamwork skills to improve the campus environment. Students helped clean the grounds and assisted with maintenance tasks across campus.

In addition to creating a more welcoming and positive school atmosphere, the event also allowed students to earn community service hours. It brought together students from various grade levels and student organizations, building new relationships and fostering a sense of unity around a shared purpose. Aleah’s initiative showed how small acts of service can create lasting change—and how student-led efforts can inspire a stronger, more connected school community.