Anthony Diaz: Serving Up Community and Clean Water in Newark

Positives

• The interviewee mentions community service frequently as a positive outlet for personal growth.
• The video has visuals for the many community service projects Mr. Diaz discusses, so the narrative is easy to follow.
• The resource includes detailed discussion questions and links to provide more information about climate solutions. 
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Mr. Diaz mentions the pandemic and that "people were suffering in silence," so teachers should prepare for students to discuss memories of that time.
• Students should know the terms indigenous, aeroponics, and inherent value.
• The interviewee mentions anime as a stress reliever so students can discuss their favorite anime characters and shows.
  

Differentiation

• Mr. Diaz discusses having grit, tenacity, and perseverance due to his childhood circumstances and neighborhood so English teachers can have students watch the video, define those terms, and then complete a creative writing activity about someone who displays the same qualities.
• Guidance counselors facilitate a discussion about the concept of limited potentials stemming from limited dreams after students view the video.
• Mr. Diaz mentions "systems of oppression" as catalysts for a survival mode response.  History teachers can have students research the phrase and then apply it to the history of people living in lower socio-economic areas in the United States.
• He also mentions the importance of becoming self-sustainable by growing food so Science teachers can use that discussion to begin a classroom gardening activity.
• This video is one of a larger documentary project highlighting climate heroes so teachers can create small-group research projects with the set of videos.