In my first blog post I suppose I should introduce myself and explain exactly what I am doing for my Interns for Justice placement. This summer I will be working with the Roosevelt High School Writing Center to put together a summer school program that teaches students leadership skills, writing skills and deepens their connections and familiarity with the St. Johns and North Portland community. The program is set up in manner that pairs upperclassmen students with incoming freshman and sophomores. This design is aimed at helping the upperclassmen gain first hand leadership and teaching experience, not only in an effort to help both parties gain the skills and experience necessary for high school and college success, but also in hopes that these connections will help foster a greater sense of cross-class community within Roosevelt High School in the years to come. On the other hand, the older teachers and interns, like myself, act more as supervisors and organizers, putting together the curriculum and making sure everything goes smoothly. For the last month or so I have been working with the writing center to gain a better understanding of the type of work and expectations that Roosevelt students face as well as how I can best help tutor them to go beyond simply writing better papers, but ultimately to  become better writers. As the start of the summer school program draws closer, our team of teachers and interns are beginning to put together a list of sites in the community we want to visit, including local parks, businesses, historical sites and large companies, like adidas. Just talking about the curriculum and sites we will be visiting is getting me excited for the program to start and, while I may be the first person to ever say this, I cannot wait until the first day of summer school.