UCLA’s after-school program is now hosting a “Take Action” Leadership Program for University High School students to help improve their home school.

“We are currently working on a book-drive project, so that we can donate all of the collected books to Brockton Elementary School,” says Leadership Recruiter Amore Thompson, junior.

Members of the program are currently creating posters to display around the school to spread the word.

Not only is University High School participating in this, but Hamilton High, Los Angeles High, Birmingham High, Crenshaw High, and a number of other high schools have students that share this enlightening experience with the same program offered at their schools.

“We recently had a meeting at L.A. High in their gym, so that all the high schools could meet up and discuss what we plan on doing to improve our school and what we have already accomplished,” stated UCLA’s Leadership Advisor Camille Hidalgo.

UCLA’s Leadership students are working in such a way that any student will be able to receive community service for donating his or her worn-out paper or hardbacks.

If you have any children’s books that you do not wish to keep anymore, please donate them to the program after school.

All of the Leadership participants went to Brockton Elementary to read to the schoolchildren as a part of the program on Oct. 16.

All of the books will be stored in their school library and in teachers’ classrooms for teachers who would like to have a few extra works.

Denim Day and Kick Butts Day are also sponsored by the UCLA’s Leadership program.
Every year, all LAUSD Schools which have the “Take Action” program hold Denim Day to educate students on sexual assault awareness.

The observance has its beginnings in 1997, when a young teenage girl in Italy was picked up by her 45-year-old driving instructor for her first lesson. He took her to an isolated location, pulled her out of the car and forcefully raped her.

The driving instructor was convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.

He claimed that it was not possible to rape her because her “jeans were too tight.”
Kick Butts Day is also a day that is sponsored by “Take Action” Leadership to urge students not to smoke.

Graphic pictures of the internal organs of people who smoke both frighten and discourage high school students from smoking, literally encouraging them to “kick” cigarette “butts,” which is where the name “Kick Butts Day” comes from.

“Being confident in yourself is very important, so you will not go into an addiction of drugs at an early age,” said sophomore Leadership participant Aaliyah Thomas.

“Last year, I helped organize the Kick Butts Day, and it was very educational to me because I learned some things that I was not aware of before,” Thomas said.

The “Take Action” Program is a great opportunity for students to give back to the community and earn community service hours, especially with book donations.

More information on helping the community through UCLA’s “Take Action” program is located in the Student Cafeteria after school.