Cedar Rapids middle school group tackles a range of social issues

CEDAR RAPIDS - A diverse group of students at Franklin Middle School meets for an hour after school every Monday for conversation and friendship.

The eighth graders, who call themselves the Trendsetters, began meeting last year after a black teenager was shot and killed in Ferguson, Mo.

The club's sponsor, Davena Johnson, a social studies teacher at Franklin, said she first met many of the group's members when they were in sixth grade. At the time, she taught sixth grade math.

'They've matured nicely,” Johnson said. 'They were able to go out in the community and demonstrate they were respectful, they asked really inquisitive questions. They're there for one another.”

One topic the group has discussed is suicide, Johnson said.

'Some kids really opened up in group about that and it doesn't leave group,” she said. 'They console one another, they talk to one another, they are really there for one another. They've grown in a lot of really positive ways. They've made some friends and some bonds that cross color lines.”

Johnson is involved with the Cedar Rapids Community School District's diversity committee and is communications chair for the local chapter of the NAACP.

She said she has developed close relationships with the members of Trendsetters. Students have her cell phone number and can reach her outside of meetings when they need to, Johnson said.

Alex Glover, 14, of Cedar Rapids, said he joined the group because his friends were involved and he didn't want to feel left out. He also had a positive impression of Johnson, he said.

'It shows diversity and how we all can be friends and come together and act like a family,” he said of the group.

Each Trendsetters meeting begins with five minutes of journaling. During the Dec. 7 meeting, they shared their thoughts about ringing bells as volunteers for Salvation Army and a visit to Coe College.

The group members then discussed which speakers they would like to see visit the club in the future. Students suggested Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres.

They also planned a Secret Santa gift exchange and collected movie ideas for future events.