ReTHINK! Fashion Show – KCUYC Students Teaching the Community
by Montague Williams (KCUYC Program Coordinator)

On Friday, December 14, the students completed this semester’s “ReTHINK!” project by organizing a fashion show for the Kansas City community. The fashion show sought to offer Good News to our community concerning both local and global oppressive systems found in the clothing industry. By presenting cost-effective but stylish outfits to their liking, the students challenged the temptation to follow marketing schemes and spend unreasonable amounts of money on clothing. They also addressed issues surrounding the use of sweatshops in other countries by presenting various pieces of fair trade clothing. In between modeling the clothes on the runway, the students used a skit, PowerPoint presentations and a speech to communicate concerns of this oppression and offered suggestions on how to handle social peer pressures at school to wear certain brands. At the end of the show, everyone received a packet of school supplies and raffle winners took home door prizes.

The fashion show gave the KCUYC staff a chance to connect with many parents and relatives of our students. Many parents were most appreciative of the ways in which the students are coming together with prayer and worship at the center of their friendship. We were proud as the KCUYC Choir led the fashion show audience in “He Reigns.” Most importantly the students were proud of themselves and each other for the entire event.

The students’ efforts unfolded into an enjoyable night for everyone as our first full semester of project-based learning came to an end. We look forward to furthering our efforts with ReTHINK! and the development of project-based learning in the future.