Civil rights leader Bob Moses joins FIU at celebration of summer math and civics academy


Bob Moses

Bob Moses, founder of the Algebra Project, (left), explains math concepts to students and guests at the Math and Civics Academy demonstration and celebration held at Miami Northwestern Senior High on Aug. 1.
(Photo by Malcolm Shields)

From table to table, Bob Moses, civil rights leader and founder of the Algebra Project, gave students final words of encouragement as they prepared for their demonstrations of math concepts at Miami Northwestern Senior High School.

From the geometry of parabolas to the plotting of a perfect square trinomial, the demonstrations were the culmination of six weeks of learning and growing for students who participated in a Math and Civics Summer Academy sponsored in part by FIU.

“Something special is happening with the Algebra Project,” said Wallace Aristide, principal of Miami Northwestern during an Aug. 1 celebration. “Parents, students and teachers are committed to the Algebra Project. This is truly awesome.”

The Algebra Project is a national program that provides high school students with low math scores on standardized tests the opportunity to improve their math skills. Students in the Algebra Project begin the program in ninth grade and continue until they graduate.

The goal is to help students prepare for college-level math courses when they graduate from high school. Organizers hope the knowledge obtained through the initiative will provide a basis for future careers in science and technology.

“The work of 21st century careers is knowledge work of the information age,” Moses said. “We want to provide entry-level knowledge work.”

Moses, a civil rights activist from Mississippi, founded the Algebra Project in 1982 and brought the initiative to Miami in 2006. That year, Moses partnered with FIU to introduce the Algebra Project at Miami Edison Senior High School. In 2012, he again teamed up with FIU to begin a partnership at Miami Northwestern.

“We are dedicated to students in the studies of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects,” said Irma Becerra-Fernandez, vice president of FIU’s Office of Engagement, which oversees the university’s partnership with Miami Northwestern.  “We believe in preparing students for college and possibly careers in STEM fields.”

Students say the math and civics academy has made an impact.

“It made me look at math differently,” said Toni Graham, who will be in the tenth grade next year. “I didn’t like [math], but now I love it.”

The Algebra Project has recruited 50 incoming ninth graders to be part of the year-long program.

Former Miami Edison students who participated in the Algebra Project are now a part of a group called the Young People’s Project, an extension of the Algebra Project. These students assist in teaching and mentoring students currently in the program.

FIU’s College of Education, Center for Leadership and Service, Office of Global Learning Initiatives, the Office of Engagement and The Education Effect, the FIU learning partnership at Miami Northwestern funded by the JP Morgan Foundation, all provided resources to the summer academy.

Learning Leadership and Civic Skills

Assisted by students from FIU’s LEAD Team, a student organization that provides presentations and activities to improve organizational effectiveness, Miami Northwestern students learned leadership skills through experimental team building activities.

“The students have come out of their shells,” said Franklin McCune, assistant director for the FIU Center for Leadership and Service, which oversees the LEAD team. “Learning about team building and trust were the main components we wanted students to take away.”

FIU’s College of Law managed the civics portion of the academy. Law professor Phyllis Kotey taught the students about the Fourth Amendment and assisted with formation of a moot court, where students took on the roles of attorneys and judges. Students learned about the Bill of Rights and the application of it to their everyday lives.

“By combining math and civics, students are able to develop their analytical, reasoning and communication skills and understand the importance of community engagement,” said Michelle Mason, senior associate dean of the FIU College of Law.

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