English teacher Cindy Hruby had an idea for a class project in 2013 that now continues to flourish through what is known as the Social Action(!) Awards.
Each year, Hruby’s Honors English II students learn about the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching and choose a non-profit that fits one of the themes. Students then compete with each other to create short films that showcase the work of their selected organizations. This year, students worked with 18 different agencies, getting to know their mission and working to tell their story through film.
The end goal of the Social Action(!) project is to take students beyond the classroom to spread the word out about the vital work these agencies perform to aid our neighbors throughout the greater Cleveland community. This project presents an opportunity for students to utilize a wide range of communication skills, beginning with the initial interview, visual storytelling through film, and concluding with a final thank you note.
Each year, the student productions are shown during a screening in front of a panel of judges. Films are judged based on content, persuasiveness, creativity, production quality and magis. The organization from the winning film then receives a $500 donation from Saint Ignatius High School. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Social Action(!) Awards could not take place this year.
Although we do not have a winning team to announce, we are very proud of the work of Hruby’s students. We encourage you to take a look at the completed Social Action(!) videos and ask that you keep these agencies in your thoughts and prayers throughout these unprecedented times.