Three projects from 20 Dallas ISD high schools participating in the Aspen Challenge have emerged as winners and will compete against others from Philadelphia – this year’s other partner city – in June at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colo.
On Tuesday, March 27, Dallas high schools presented their projects for judging. Learn more about the Dallas Aspen Challenge here.
Emmett J. Conrad High School’s “I.M.P.A.C.T.” project, along with “Mobility 4 All” from Moisés E. Molina and “Dreamers Not Criminals” from Sunset high schools, are the top Dallas projects.
Members of the Molina team (shown above) focused their project on solving transportation issues for elderly, the disabled and others who find mobility stressful in the city.They partnered with City Hall officials and DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) officials to find solutions, including use of folding bicycles that take up less room on public transportation.
The Aspen Challenge, sponsored and coordinated by the Aspen Institute, is an eight-week competition during which participating students choose an issue facing their communities and then come up with a viable solution.
Students choose one challenge out of six presented by members of the community. Teams have a week to focus on their chosen challenge and draft their vision for solving it and set goals. Then, teams implement their plans by engaging their communities through events, surveys and media outreach.
