Photo courtesy of Publicolor
New York, NY – By combining hands-on painting projects with comprehensive support and a strong sense of community, the nonprofit Publicolor helps young people facing significant life challenges succeed academically and build pathways to fulfilling careers. For the crucial role she and her students have played in empowering Publicolor youth, Clinical Associate Professor Peggy Morton was recently honored with the organization’s Cole Genn Educator’s Award.
For the past five years, NYU undergraduates in Dr. Morton’s course “Service Learning Through Youth and Community” have provided remote tutoring and mentoring to middle and high school students in Publicolor’s youth development program. The course combines that weekly service with classroom instruction and reflection. As a result it is mutually beneficial for the students from Publicolor and NYU.
In her remarks as she accepted the award, Dr. Morton explained that class sessions cover topics including developing empathy, building relationships with young people, and recognizing systemic inequities that make it challenging to learn. “As we always do in social work, we focus on [the Publicolor students’] strengths,” said Dr. Morton. “We teach about their incredible resilience and the talents that fuel their persistence. The first thing I emphasize to the students in the class is that while you may be coaches and role models, you walk alongside this student and you will learn as much as they do.”
The course, which is offered every fall and spring semester, has enrolled 200 students from across the University to date. Its impact on students’ learning and values was evident from the alumni and current students who attended Publicolor’s gala to celebrate Dr. Morton’s recognition.
About NYU Silver School of Social Work
Founded in 1960 and renowned for a strong tradition of excellence in direct social work practice and dedication to social justice, NYU Silver has provided rigorous training to more than 20,000 social work practitioners and leaders in every area of the field, making it the leading destination for students who want to become innovative practitioners at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of social work practice. The School has four campuses in the heart of New York City, Rockland County, Westchester County, and Shanghai.
