Learning for a Cause
Encyclopedia
Learning for a Cause was a non-profit student press founded in 2003 by Canadian educator and writer Michael Ernest Sweet
. The initiative operated from Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal until autumn 2010 when it merged into Youth Fusion Quebec.
Learning for a Cause aimed to increase and strengthen the social and moral sensibilities in high school students by providing them with genuine opportunities to engage as citizens. The flagship project of the initiative was the Publishing Program which allowed Canadian high school students to write and publish on REAL issues in REAL books and thereby inspire REAL change in their communities and indeed their world. More than 1000 high school students were published and made authors through this award-winning initiative.
More noted publications include Down to Earth, http://www.trafford.com/07-2868 a collection of more than 100 high school students writing in response to global warming and environmental destruction. The volume featured guest writers Roberta Bondar
and Justin Trudeau
. Down to Earth was endorsed by a number of celebrities including Martin Sheen
, David Suzuki
, Farley Mowat
and Marc Garneau
. Columbia University
Philosopher Maxine Greene
has said that the project "is a significant opening to possibility" and legendary Canadian artist Robert Bateman
added that "Learning for a Cause is what every young person should be doing." Down to Earth was a finalist in two categories at the 2009 World Indie Book Awards.
Other publications include Raising Humanity, which features introductions by Emmy-award-winning actor Martin Sheen
and Canada's First Astronaut Marc Garneau
.
The project and its publications have been featured in the Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette Concordia University's papers The Link and The Journal. Features have also appeared in 34th Parallel Magazine and Canadian Teacher. The project and students have also appeared on radio and television on CBC, NPR and CTV on numerous occasions as well as in Canadian Teacher and 34th Parallel Magazines. Again in 2009 both Concordia's The Link Magazine and The Montreal Gazette profiled the project and it's new publication "Raising Humanity".
Learning for a Cause received a 2006 & 2009 Quebec Entrepreneurial Award and was featured in a Quebec Ministry of Education documentary video. In 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognized its founder, Michael Ernest Sweet
, with a Prime Minister's Award for his work in founding the organization.
Youth Fusion Quebec, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that establishes partnerships between high schools and universities, in an effort to counter high school drop out rates, will continue the publishing project with the Learning for a Cause imprint beginning in 2011-12.
Michael Ernest Sweet
Michael Ernest Sweet is a Canadian educator, writer and non-profit executive.Michael Sweet holds a bachelor in independent studies from St. Mary's University, a bachelor of education from Nipissing University's Schulich School of Education and a master of arts in educational philosophy from...
. The initiative operated from Lester B. Pearson High School in Montreal until autumn 2010 when it merged into Youth Fusion Quebec.
Learning for a Cause aimed to increase and strengthen the social and moral sensibilities in high school students by providing them with genuine opportunities to engage as citizens. The flagship project of the initiative was the Publishing Program which allowed Canadian high school students to write and publish on REAL issues in REAL books and thereby inspire REAL change in their communities and indeed their world. More than 1000 high school students were published and made authors through this award-winning initiative.
More noted publications include Down to Earth, http://www.trafford.com/07-2868 a collection of more than 100 high school students writing in response to global warming and environmental destruction. The volume featured guest writers Roberta Bondar
Roberta Bondar
Roberta Bondar,is OC, O.Ont, FRCP, FRSC is Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space. Following more than a decade as NASA's head of space medicine, Bondar became a consultant and speaker in the business, scientific and medical communities.-Education:Roberta Bondar had...
and Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
. Down to Earth was endorsed by a number of celebrities including Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
, David Suzuki
David Suzuki
David Suzuki, CC, OBC is a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist. Suzuki earned a Ph.D in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and was a professor in the genetics department of the University of British Columbia from 1963 until his retirement in 2001...
, Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
and Marc Garneau
Marc Garneau
Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC CD FCASI MP is a Canadian retired military officer, former astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space taking part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
. Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Philosopher Maxine Greene
Maxine Greene
Maxine Greene is an American educational philosopher, author, social activist, and teacher.-Career:American educational philosopher, author, social activist and teacher who values experiential learning in its "entirety", Maxine Greene has influenced thousands of educators to bring the vitality of...
has said that the project "is a significant opening to possibility" and legendary Canadian artist Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman
Robert Bateman may refer to:people* Robert Bateman , painter, sculptor, naturalist, and scholar* Robert Bateman * Robert Bateman , Canadian wildlife artist and naturalist...
added that "Learning for a Cause is what every young person should be doing." Down to Earth was a finalist in two categories at the 2009 World Indie Book Awards.
Other publications include Raising Humanity, which features introductions by Emmy-award-winning actor Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
and Canada's First Astronaut Marc Garneau
Marc Garneau
Joseph Jean-Pierre Marc Garneau, CC CD FCASI MP is a Canadian retired military officer, former astronaut, engineer and politician.Garneau was the first Canadian in space taking part in three flights aboard NASA Space shuttles...
.
The project and its publications have been featured in the Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette Concordia University's papers The Link and The Journal. Features have also appeared in 34th Parallel Magazine and Canadian Teacher. The project and students have also appeared on radio and television on CBC, NPR and CTV on numerous occasions as well as in Canadian Teacher and 34th Parallel Magazines. Again in 2009 both Concordia's The Link Magazine and The Montreal Gazette profiled the project and it's new publication "Raising Humanity".
Learning for a Cause received a 2006 & 2009 Quebec Entrepreneurial Award and was featured in a Quebec Ministry of Education documentary video. In 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recognized its founder, Michael Ernest Sweet
Michael Ernest Sweet
Michael Ernest Sweet is a Canadian educator, writer and non-profit executive.Michael Sweet holds a bachelor in independent studies from St. Mary's University, a bachelor of education from Nipissing University's Schulich School of Education and a master of arts in educational philosophy from...
, with a Prime Minister's Award for his work in founding the organization.
Youth Fusion Quebec, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that establishes partnerships between high schools and universities, in an effort to counter high school drop out rates, will continue the publishing project with the Learning for a Cause imprint beginning in 2011-12.