Sticky Note to Self & The Soulard School (2019)
For this year-long project, De Nichols partnered with The Soulard School (TSS) to produce a series of learning experiences, tools, and artworks for its “Sticky Note to Self—Social Justice, Identity, and Action” series.
De introduces the project to students with an assembly session teaching how art can be used for activism and mindfulness.
Funded through support from Teaching Tolerance, De worked with the school’s 3rd-5th grade teachers, administrators, and parents to develop a series of curriculum, workshops, and experiences focused on teaching values of social justice, human rights advocacy, and community action. Students additionally used sticky notes and writing to learn skills for creative self-reflection and mindfulness. The goals of the project served to create brave space for expression, promote challenging dialogues around identity and bias, and nurture student growth in their understanding of human rights and the power of individual and community voice.
It is important for students to see the role designers/artists play in society to imagine, question, connect, and explore challenges in our world. As students participate in this project they build vocabulary to express empathy, process challenges, and communicate ideas for change.
De helps students learn the process and tools for creating and binding their own reflective journals.
The series culminated in the co-creation of an exterior mural, “Be Strong. Be Proud. Be Free” that expresses a mantra conceived by students as a reflection the school’s community values. Outputs also included merchandise, apparel, a family video compilation, a printable workbook of reflective writing activities, and a capstone exhibition that captured students’ collective creations and process.
This project fosters these attributes within our community and nurtures students to become engaged and empathetic citizens.
The series coincides with the curricular integration of the Teaching Tolerance Social Justice Standards, builds upon TSS’s existing social-emotional curriculum, and is a component of an anti-bias and inclusion trajectory. A team of parents and educators assessed the community’s commitment and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion through a parent-lead Diversity & Inclusion Committee (2017), consulting with experts, and leading professional development for staff. Future planning includes opportunities for families to engage in shared learning, and actionable items that build a more inclusive environment to increase diversity among families and staff.