| Summary: | The aim of this action-research project was to evaluate the impact of high school students’ involvement in
community-oriented, art-based work in the social studies. In Detroit, high school students engaged in persuasive
writing and design while exploring community issues. The project culminated in the installation of student artwork
on a billboard in the city’s cultural center. Mixed methods were employed to evaluate the project; forty-seven
students completed surveys at its conclusion. The findings suggest that creative projects with real-world
applications are motivational, and they promote civic education. The majority of the students reported that their
awareness of community issues had increased. This study has implications for the implementation of projects for
democratic education and service learning, arts integration in the social studies, and the use of authentic assessments
in contextual, culturally responsive teaching
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