INSIDE THE DESIGN TEAM: KIRWAN INFOGRAPHIC
Design Team students with collaborators from the ACLU of Maryland
The Kirwan Commission is named after the chairman Dr. Brit Kirwan. The purpose of the Kirwan Commission is to recommend policies that enable Maryland schools to reach the levels of the best performing school system in the country. The Commission also recommended changes to current funding formulas for schools in the state of Maryland. What they recommended became the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a bill adding $1.1 billion in new funding over the next three years to strengthen our schools.
“Kirwan is important to me because it’ll help fund the schools for students younger than me, so that they can have a more well-rounded education that will better help them in the future.”
“Kirwan is an important thing for future students to have in order to have the best learning experience possible.”
With our partners at the ACLU of Maryland we worked on advocacy for the Kirwan Blueprint Bill. We were tasked with creating an infographic that would highlight key points that needed to be addressed to make the bill more equitable.
We used Adobe Illustrator to create a one-page infographic highlighting crucial points that the Blueprint Bill needed to address such as adequate funding, equitable funding, culturally responsive pedagogy, Brown and Black teachers, and a collaborative accountability system.
Kirwan infographic brainstorming
Creating the infographic in Adobe Illustrator
The final infographic design
In March we took a trip to Annapolis to visit with senators and discuss why they should show support and fight for the Blueprint Bill to be passed. The bill was passed by the House and Senate, so we succeeded in conveying the importance of the bill and its benefits toward youth in the state of Maryland school system. However, Governor Hogan still needs to sign the Blueprint Bill into law.
Even during COVID-19, the Kirwan Blueprint Bill should be passed no matter what because it is crucial to the future generations. They deserve a better chance in their education than previous ones who have struggled due to the lack of funding for the Maryland school system.
Left: Kyla-Marie holding the Kirwan Infographic
Middle: Bryce shares the infographic with Maryland State Senator Mary Washington
Right: Bryce, Kyla-Marie, and Ky’Nel with Maryland State Senator Cory McCray
MEET THE AUTHOR
Bryce Gooden is a graphic designer attending Baltimore Design School. After school he has the privilege to join a group of other gifted students at Wide Angle Youth Media, where he can design projects with his peers that have the potential to influence our community for the better.