Our MLK/Mercer Street Friends Summer Program was designed to strengthen students academically in preparation for the upcoming school year, while also encouraging creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking through a variety of engaging enrichment activities.
Alongside core academic support, students participated in a dynamic leadership course where they worked together to explore and propose solutions to current global issues, helping them build teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills.
In addition to leadership development, students explored their artistic talents in a fashion design course, where they learned the fundamentals of design and sewing, ultimately creating their own custom clothing pieces. In the horticulture program, students gained hands-on experience in sustainable gardening by planting, tending, and harvesting fruits and vegetables—and even pickling cucumbers to learn about food preservation.
The program also included a TV production workshop, where students wrote, directed, and produced their own short films, gaining experience in storytelling, filming, and editing. Meanwhile, the comic book club brought together aspiring writers and illustrators to collaborate on creating an original graphic novel, combining creativity with teamwork.
Overall, the program offered a well-rounded experience that blended academic growth with hands-on learning, creativity, and real-world skill development.