Law Academy of Law & Public Policy Contact: Fredrika Conyers Glover Law Academy Coordinator The Academy of Law & Public Policy 1401 Nye Street Capitol Heights, MD 20743 E-mail: fconyers@pgcps.com Celebrate Your Freedom 2002 Activity Summary: Fairmont Heights High School's First Annual Law Career Awareness Week was a huge success for the students and the community. We invited churches, parents and civic organizations. Mrs. Fredrika Conyers-Glover, Law Academy Coordinator, got the entire school involved by holding a poetry/essay contest and a photo contest highlighting the theme: "Celebrate Your Freedom—Assuring Equal Justice for All." Our principal, Dr. Carolyn Blue, was very supportive of our contest. Monday: Students visited the courthouse. Tuesday: Students visited a correctional facility. Wednesday: The Academy of Law and Public Policy kicked off our Law Career Awareness Day. There were many different speakers and presenters at the program that piqued the interest of all the students who attended the "Celebration of Freedom." Thursday: Mock Trial Luncheon to celebrate the successful Mock Trial season. Friday: Supreme Court skits performed by students. All of the trials that were reenacted highlighted this year's theme. Activity Narrative: On Monday, the Law and Public Policy students visited the Circuit Court House in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This trip was for students who are interested in joining the Law Academy. The students experienced a hands-on approach to how juvenile hearings take place. Students were introduced to the State's Attorney, Jack Johnson. Another group of students visited the federal courthouse, located in Greenbelt, Maryland. Several law clerks and attorneys spoke with the students. They also met with an FBI agent, Judge Williams, and Judge Day. Students were also able to view a trial, which was interesting, informative, and emotional. On Tuesday, there was a field trip to a correctional facility. The students were able to talk with correction officers about their careers and educational backgrounds. They were allowed to tour the facility and visit with nonviolent inmates. On Wednesday, May 1, the Academy of Law and Public Policy kicked off our Law Career Awareness Day. Students decorated the entire building with posters and Law Day balloons, along with showcases highlighting this year's theme. The teachers and administrators all wore Law Academy shirts or red, white, and blue. The celebration received widespread attention from a local newspaper and a radio station. There were many different speakers and presenters at the program. We presented speakers in two different ways. Some speakers sat at a table in the media center for a Law Career Day approach, which gave students a more personal environment. The other speakers gave lectures in several classrooms. They all described how they were assuring equal justice for all in their careers. They also explained why students should celebrate the freedoms attained by their ancestors. The presenters included the following attorneys: Antoini Jones, Rajesh Kumar, Sharon Y. Christmas-DeBerry and Assistant State's Attorneys Joseph Wright and Mary Brennan. The following Delegates from the 24th District attended: Delegate Rushern Baker, Delegate Joanne Benson, and Delegate Darrin Swain and Seat Pleasant City Councilman Brian Shivers. We also had representatives from Bowie State University and Prince George's County Community College. Representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services/Office for Civil Rights attended, as did social workers and other employees of the Department of Social Services. We had law enforcement officers such as state troopers, probation offers, and Prince George's County Police. Librarians from the Maryland General Assembly gave the students virtual tours. They then showed them how to email their politicians to voice their concerns. There were also military personnel and entrepreneurs. Arguably our most influential guests were Secretary of State, John T. Willis; the Director of International Affairs, Ken Cummings; and Deputy State's Attorney Mark Spencer. The Law Career Awareness Day was a complete success; all guests complimented the program and were proud that the resources were being implemented. On Thursday, we held a Mock Trial Luncheon to celebrate the successful Mock Trial season. This season the Mock Trial team had a 6-1 record and advanced to the semi-finals for the first time. Various speakers attended the luncheon. On the last day of our Law Week Celebration, Law Academy Students presented skits based on Supreme Court decisions. All of the trials that were reenacted highlighted this year's theme. The Law and Public Policy Academy students performed in eight different classrooms, and worked hard to achieve full audience participation. Our approach to Law Week was very effective. We were able to build partnerships with various organizations in our community. We also got great exposure for our Academy of Law and Public Policy. Many of the participants in the Academy were offered internships due to their outstanding performances. We are proud that we reached approximately 1,100 people. We were able to plan thirteen field trips for next school year and we have already begun planning to make Law Week bigger and better next year. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization