The Chavez Service Clubs are a joint project of California Volunteers, the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, and Youth Service California.  Middle school students in Title I schools throughout the state of California participate in after-school clubs that meet for at least 3 hours a week to learn about the life and contributions of Cesar Chavez, and to develop and implement community service-learning projects. 

 

The Chavez Service Clubs take place at approximately 60 middle schools across the State, but there is a core program model, and a centrally-developed curriculum.  School site staff are also provided with on-going training, technical assistance, and service project support throughout program implementation. 

 

For more information regarding the Cesar E Chavez Service Programs click here

 

The Chavez Service Club program model includes:

 

1) Chavez Core Values Curriculum: The Chavez Service Clubs provide members with on-going    

    service- learning opportunities related to the Core Values of Cesar E. Chavez.  Club members engage in

    formal academic and historical teachings about the life and contributions of Cesar E. Chavez, including

    hands-on, fun learning activities that are age-appropriate for youth.  The Curriculum also provides a

    guideline and a progression for program staff to use as they plan their year.  Program staff believe they

    are able to enrich their students' understanding of why their service projects matter by referring back to the

    curriculum. 

 

2) Hands-on learning method: Project-based learning and service-learning have been shown to be highly

    effective instructional methods with middle school students.  Adolescents are shifting cognitively from

    concrete to formal operations -- meaning they are becoming able to grasp more abstract concepts and

    apply them to real-world situations.  Service-learning opportunities are an ideal "laboratory" for students of

    this age group to acquire and retain new knowledge and skills.  Chavez Service Club members are

    expected to organize at least 4 service-learning projects a year. 

3) Emphasis on youth voice and choice: Across the highly successful Clubs staff members continue to

    emphasize the importance of allowing the youth to decide what service activities they would participate in. 

    This youth-led approach is a core aspect of the program model.  It is not enough to have youth merely

    participate in service projects; they need to determine what projects they will develop, based on real

    community needs, and how it will benefit the community.  Research has determined that a risk factor for

    high school dropout among middle school students is the lack of opportunities within traditional middle

    school classrooms for adolescents to make choices about their activities and learning.  The Service Clubs

    provide this opportunity for students in a meaningful context. 

 

Psychological and Emotional Development

                1) Increased awareness of positive possible future

                2) Increased self-efficacy

                3) Increased awareness of cause and effect between actions and consequences

                4) Increased awareness of the role of personal values in guiding decision making

 

Social Development

                1) Increased appreciation of the value of service and civic engagement

                2) Increased skills for working with and getting along with others, including conflict resolution,

                    cooperation, and supporting others

                3) Increased awareness of membership in the larger community

                4) Increased awareness of themselves in socio-historical context

 

Knowledge  & Skill Development

                1) Increased knowledge about California and US history, and the life and core values of Cesar

                     Chavez

                2) Improved capacity for critical thinking

 

 

                1) Improved ability to relate abstract historical concepts to concrete situations in the present day

                2) Increased attachment to school

                3) Increased attendance at school