Justice Resource Center, New York

City

Justice Goes to School

Innovation PrizeNelson Mandela Graca Machel, 2005

PresentationPresentation

Justice Resource Center, New York

City

Venezuela/New York City PartnershipVenezuela/New York City Partnership

The The Justice Resource CenterJustice Resource Center (NYC) and (NYC) and CIVITAS VenezuelaCIVITAS Venezuela have been paired for 7 years.have been paired for 7 years.

The partnership is one of the first pilot programs in The partnership is one of the first pilot programs in CIVITAS Latin AmericaCIVITAS Latin America..

Three years ago, Three years ago, CIVITAS VenezuelaCIVITAS Venezuela was awarded the was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Promoting Social JusticeNelson Mandela Award for Promoting Social Justice. This . This and other successes are a testament to the program’s and other successes are a testament to the program’s effectiveness.effectiveness.

Venezuela Map…Venezuela Map…

Steady Growth of Citizen Projects in VenezuelaSteady Growth of Citizen Projects in Venezuela

Thousands of teachers Thousands of teachers trained, and thousands of trained, and thousands of students participating in students participating in showcases throughout:showcases throughout:

CaracasCaracas

PariaParia SucreSucre

MeridaMerida

New InitiativeNew Initiative

Last year, we started to implement the Last year, we started to implement the Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School program with great success.program with great success.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School is modeled after the nationally acclaimed is modeled after the nationally acclaimed MENTOR: law firm/school partnershipMENTOR: law firm/school partnership program, which was started in program, which was started in New York City in 1984.New York City in 1984.

The The MENTOR MENTOR program pairs law firms with schools. Each pair program pairs law firms with schools. Each pair participates in a visit to the school, a visit to the law firm, a participates in a visit to the school, a visit to the law firm, a court visit, and the coaching of a Moot Court team. (Most law firms court visit, and the coaching of a Moot Court team. (Most law firms want to do more, so other activities include tutoring, college want to do more, so other activities include tutoring, college visits, scholarships, etc.)visits, scholarships, etc.)

In New York City, over 60 major law firms participate in In New York City, over 60 major law firms participate in MENTOR.MENTOR. Other cities, including Washington, DC, and other international Other cities, including Washington, DC, and other international

sites participate.sites participate. On our last delegation visit, we brought a partner from a major law On our last delegation visit, we brought a partner from a major law

firm and a representative from the New York State Bar Association, firm and a representative from the New York State Bar Association, who assisted with signing up law firms to participate in the who assisted with signing up law firms to participate in the program in Venezuela.program in Venezuela.

CIVITAS VenezuelaCIVITAS Venezuela has been using has been using Foundations of Democracy Foundations of Democracy texts texts from the Center for Civic Education, as well as teacher/lawyer from the Center for Civic Education, as well as teacher/lawyer materials.materials.

This program is a success story in the fight for justice, This program is a success story in the fight for justice, transparency, and the creation of a citizenry of students that transparency, and the creation of a citizenry of students that understand the importance of the rule of law.understand the importance of the rule of law.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

Description of the Experience:Description of the Experience:

Justice Goes to School is a civic Justice Goes to School is a civic education program that emphasizes education program that emphasizes knowledge of the Venezuelan knowledge of the Venezuelan Justice System, with the goal of Justice System, with the goal of deepening the value of justice as deepening the value of justice as a primary instrument in the a primary instrument in the strengthening of the democratic strengthening of the democratic political system.political system.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

Juan de Dios Guanche School (210 Students)

7th through 9th grade

Andrés Bello y Carlos

Soublette School

(140 students)

6th grade

Who participated?

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

General Objective:General Objective:

To promote learning spaces, for To promote learning spaces, for primary and secondary students, primary and secondary students, that will increase their interest that will increase their interest in the Venezuelan Justice System in the Venezuelan Justice System and the rule of law, through a and the rule of law, through a process of analysis and process of analysis and reflection regarding case studies reflection regarding case studies in themes of interest to young in themes of interest to young people, which will enhance their people, which will enhance their development as citizens.development as citizens.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

Specific Objectives:Specific Objectives:

To develop knowledge of justice as a fundamental human To develop knowledge of justice as a fundamental human value.value.

To deepen democratic values.To deepen democratic values. To understand the structure and function of the To understand the structure and function of the

Venezuelan Justice System and the laws on which it is Venezuelan Justice System and the laws on which it is founded.founded.

To invite analysis and comprehension through group To invite analysis and comprehension through group participation in simulated constitutional proceedings.participation in simulated constitutional proceedings.

To improve oral expression, analysis, and oral and To improve oral expression, analysis, and oral and written reflection.written reflection.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

““Learning to Live Together”Learning to Live Together”

To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience To facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience between law professors, practicing lawyers (in firms and between law professors, practicing lawyers (in firms and in private practice), education experts, and students, in private practice), education experts, and students, who will all participate in the program with the goal of who will all participate in the program with the goal of replicating it effectively.replicating it effectively.

Justice Goes to School: Aspects of the ProgramJustice Goes to School: Aspects of the Program(a(all phases involve group discussions, effective questioning, discussion of ll phases involve group discussions, effective questioning, discussion of problems, and application of tools)problems, and application of tools)

Phase I (basic concepts):Phase I (basic concepts):1. Presentation of Justice Goes to School1. Presentation of Justice Goes to School2. The concept of Justice as a value2. The concept of Justice as a value3. The Venezuelan Justice System3. The Venezuelan Justice System4. General aspects of human rights4. General aspects of human rights5. General aspects of the rights of children and adolescents (including entities 5. General aspects of the rights of children and adolescents (including entities that protect those rights and the best interests of children)that protect those rights and the best interests of children)6. The internal rules and structure of a school: fundamental concepts6. The internal rules and structure of a school: fundamental concepts7. Practical exercises: criteria to discuss and decide upon7. Practical exercises: criteria to discuss and decide upon

Phase II (developing competencies):Phase II (developing competencies):8. What are some problems associated with Justice?8. What are some problems associated with Justice?9. Distributive and corrective Justice9. Distributive and corrective Justice10. Procedural Justice10. Procedural Justice11. Alternative conflict resolution: mediation and reconciliation11. Alternative conflict resolution: mediation and reconciliation12. Reparation12. Reparation13. Due process13. Due process

Guided visit to Supreme Court; visits to law firmsGuided visit to Supreme Court; visits to law firms

Phase III (preparing a hypothetical case):Phase III (preparing a hypothetical case):14. Selecting a problem for the hypothetical case14. Selecting a problem for the hypothetical case15. Preparing the hypothetical case15. Preparing the hypothetical case16. Rehearsal of the presentation of the hypothetical case16. Rehearsal of the presentation of the hypothetical case17. Meeting with the Justices17. Meeting with the Justices

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

Team of FacilitatorsTeam of Facilitators

LawyersLaw Students

A group of practicing lawyers, assisted by law students, with technical support from CIVITAS, will facilitate learning through comparison, analysis, and reflection with students organized in work teams.

The presence of lawyers interacting with students will enrich the work dynamic by providing the direct experience in the Venezuelan Justice System of the lawyers, which will be shared with the students.

Technical Assistance from CIVITAS

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

MethodologyMethodology•Discussions and group work to reinforce concepts

•Discussion of problems and application of tools to enhance knowledge of the Norms of Coexistence in the school environment.

•Lawyers and law students will support the development of hypothetical cases to be presented at the meeting with the Justices.

•Participation in the meeting with the Justices, where the lawyers and law students will play the role of judges and use predetermined academic and professional criteria to evaluate the students’ performance in the simulated trial.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

Expected ResultsExpected Results

For students:

Introduction to the study of the Venezuelan Justice System

Addition of cases discussed to their portfolios

deepening of their democratic values

application of internal school rules.

For law students: Fulfillment of their university Community Service requirement

Gain experience

Support in their preparation of the service learning narrative.

For lawyers:

• Consolidation of firms and groups of lawyers, dedicated to social responsibility, who will share their experiences.

Justice Goes to SchoolJustice Goes to School

Who comprises the team?Who comprises the team?

What are the challenges in the process of Social Change?What are the challenges in the process of Social Change?

Within the classroom:Within the classroom:

To place an emphasis on fundamental democratic values.To place an emphasis on fundamental democratic values.

To incorporate the teacher as a fundamental ally of the program.To incorporate the teacher as a fundamental ally of the program.

To link the exercise in justice with the daily life of the To link the exercise in justice with the daily life of the school.school.

To strengthen the group work through inclusion and mutual To strengthen the group work through inclusion and mutual respect.respect.

Away from the school environment:Away from the school environment:

To understand the constant changes in the Venezuelan Justice To understand the constant changes in the Venezuelan Justice System.System.

To create constructive dialogue.To create constructive dialogue.

To recognize another as an important actor.To recognize another as an important actor.

To involve the community in each phase of the program.To involve the community in each phase of the program.

What can be implemented to face these factors?What can be implemented to face these factors?

A discussion of fundamental values.A discussion of fundamental values.

An incentive to apply school rules.An incentive to apply school rules.

Inclusion in the discussion certain issues: gender Inclusion in the discussion certain issues: gender inequality; violence; corruption.inequality; violence; corruption.

For lawyer facilitators, an increase in confidence and a For lawyer facilitators, an increase in confidence and a desire to continue working in the face of professional desire to continue working in the face of professional challenges.challenges.

How should civic education be applied?How should civic education be applied?

At the level of national curriculum:At the level of national curriculum: In the Venezuelan case, the curricular concepts that can be In the Venezuelan case, the curricular concepts that can be

associated with the Justice program are: the new man and the associated with the Justice program are: the new man and the premilitary formation (both are linked with the development premilitary formation (both are linked with the development of values and society).of values and society).

We are a part of the discussion of a new national curriculum.We are a part of the discussion of a new national curriculum.

In universities:In universities: From the focus on community service, we have incorporated the From the focus on community service, we have incorporated the

concepts at the university level with communities involved in concepts at the university level with communities involved in the program.the program.

Participating in events promoted by the universities.Participating in events promoted by the universities.

Offering workshops, forums, and seminars.Offering workshops, forums, and seminars.

In the community:In the community:

Promoting concepts with community leaders and community Promoting concepts with community leaders and community organizations.organizations.

Demonstrating the short-term concrete benefits and Demonstrating the short-term concrete benefits and results.results.

The concepts address: how to increase the level of The concepts address: how to increase the level of participation; who to enlist to solve problems; how to participation; who to enlist to solve problems; how to gain confidence and interdependence.gain confidence and interdependence.

How should civic education be applied?

What are the necessary steps to forming relations in the What are the necessary steps to forming relations in the current political climate?current political climate?

At the governmental level:At the governmental level: Strengthen the connection to local governmentsStrengthen the connection to local governments Participate in discussions related to the theme of Participate in discussions related to the theme of

education.education. Promote the participation of key actors in our meetings Promote the participation of key actors in our meetings

and festivals.and festivals.

At the school/university level:At the school/university level: Involve teachers, faculty and other personnel in the Involve teachers, faculty and other personnel in the

program activities.program activities. Establish a coherent plan of action in a collaborative Establish a coherent plan of action in a collaborative

way.way. Specific participation in certain activities.Specific participation in certain activities. Identify knowledge to transferIdentify knowledge to transfer Identify a community of practices related to the theme.Identify a community of practices related to the theme.

What are the necessary steps to forming relations in the What are the necessary steps to forming relations in the current political climate?current political climate?

At the community level:At the community level:

Strengthen the link to local actors.Strengthen the link to local actors. Continue with proposed activities.Continue with proposed activities. Align the goals of the program with the community.Align the goals of the program with the community. Undertake evaluation activities.Undertake evaluation activities. Conduct inclusive and constructive dialogue.Conduct inclusive and constructive dialogue. Identify lessons learned and their application in the Identify lessons learned and their application in the

daily life of the community.daily life of the community. Conceptualize the impact on the community: where are we Conceptualize the impact on the community: where are we

now? Where do we want to be? How will we get there?; now? Where do we want to be? How will we get there?; declare the opportunity, the plan, the success, and the declare the opportunity, the plan, the success, and the key actors; deal effectively with changes; learn first, key actors; deal effectively with changes; learn first, act second.act second.

Recount experiences and lessons learned.Recount experiences and lessons learned.

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedAt the community level:At the community level: The level of commitment.The level of commitment. The participation of community organizations.The participation of community organizations.

At the school/university level:At the school/university level: The sign of opportunities.The sign of opportunities. The factors that lead to success.The factors that lead to success. Identification of changes.Identification of changes. Effective management of contingencies.Effective management of contingencies.

At the students’ level:At the students’ level: Students’ recognition of themselves as key actors in the Students’ recognition of themselves as key actors in the

school environment.school environment. The rise of new leaders.The rise of new leaders. Motivation.Motivation.

At the lawyers’ level:At the lawyers’ level: Their social responsibility.Their social responsibility. A strengthening of the value of Justice.A strengthening of the value of Justice.

GRACIAS …… Thank you!GRACIAS …… Thank you!

www.civitasvenezuela.orgwww.civitasvenezuela.org

www.jrcnyc.orgwww.jrcnyc.org