March 11, 2026: Civic Voices in Action
Civic Learning Week is a time to recognize the important role education plays in sustaining our democracy. This week, the 91社区 is proud to showcase student civic learning that reflects how young people across New York are growing into informed, engaged, and active citizens.
We are proud to present student work from two districts today:
School: Oceanside Middle School, Oceanside School District
Location: Oceanside, NY
Student: Ava Restivo, Grade 8
Teacher: Samantha Herman
罢颈迟濒别:听鈥淪ilence in the Labs: Give Animals a Voice鈥
Overview:听
This presentation, 鈥淪ilence in the Labs: Give Animals a Voice,鈥 argues that animals are routinely tested on for cosmetic products, which causes significant stress, pain, and harm to their well-being. Ava鈥檚 research question focuses on how cosmetic animal testing impacts both animals and consumers, emphasizing that animals can鈥檛 communicate their suffering and often react differently than humans.
Ava explains that cosmetic companies often test on animals to avoid testing directly on humans and because some companies don鈥檛 want to spend money transitioning to alternative methods. She provides evidence that animal testing is still widespread globally, including statistics about the number of animals tested yearly and the fact that many major cosmetic companies still rely on these practices.
Finally, Ava鈥檚 project highlights that animal testing is not only unethical but also unreliable for consumer safety, since animal test results do not consistently match human reactions. It proposes solutions such as lab-grown human skin and cruelty-free testing methods, and encourages informed action through consumer choice, awareness campaigns, and contacting major cosmetic retailers to promote cruelty-free products.
Link to student project:听Silence in the Labs: Give Animals a Voice
听
School:听Yonkers Montessori Academy, Yonkers City School District
Location:听Yonkers, NY
Students:听Lauren Restivo (Class of 2026) and Gianni Rodriguez (Class of 2026)
Teacher:听Michael Devlin, Social Studies Teacher
Title:听"Foster Care Alternatives Podcast"
Overview:听
This project was created by two seniors at听Yonkers Montessori Academy, a public school in Yonkers serving students from Pre-K through 12th听grade. This team of students created a podcast to examine alternatives to foster care for young people.听Drawing on research, they noted that while abuse accounts for some placements, the majority (60鈥65%) are attributed to neglect, which they argue is often rooted in poverty rather than a lack of parental care. Through specific examples, such as a child being removed simply for not having a bed, they questioned whether targeted support could prevent unnecessary removals.听The students highlighted CarePortal, founded by Adrian Lewis, as a prevention-focused solution. The platform connects child welfare professionals with local community members to meet verified needs like beds, utilities, or food helping families stay safely together.听By connecting research, real-world examples, and public policy, these students demonstrated thoughtful civic engagement and a commitment to strengthening families through community-based solutions.