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Hello, My Name Is Minimum Wage

Students link up to demonstrate the current distribution of wealth.

Minimum wage has been a hot topic since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the first national minimum hourly pay in 1938. Over 75 years later we’re still debating the value of a paycheck. Is minimum wage enough to live on? Should the government keep increasing the current rate?

In the Spring of 2015, CUP Teaching Artist Jenn Anne Williams worked with Alhassan Sussu’s Economics class at the International Community High School in the Bronx to explore whether the government should be involved in income equality.

To investigate, students tried to balance a monthly minimum wage paycheck, went into the neighborhood to survey community members on their opinions, and debated the pros and cons. Students created puppets, collages, and drawings to illustrate the information in the accordion booklet that shares what they discovered.

Get your own booklet here!

What People are Saying

“After this project I understand wealth distribution more deeply. This program helped us all know more about minimum wage, both the big and small ideas, and we were able to create a product that can be easily understood by everyone in our community.” – Acila Alrawhani, Student from “Hello, My Name Is Minimum Wage”

“I feel more confident with myself after going through this program and conducting interviews. The opportunity to interact with people in our community outside of school and to hear their point of views really impacted my own ideas on income equality.” – Maria Feliz, Student from “Hello, My Name Is Minimum Wage”

“When we participated in a debate we had much stronger arguments because we interviewed people directly affected by minimum wage and learned how it is connected to their every day lives. A normal classroom would never have given me that experience.” – Juan Hernandez, Student from “Hello, My Name Is Minimum Wage”

Resources & Links

International Community High School is a progressive public high school in the South Bronx for English Language Learners.

Funding Support

This project was made possible by the Bay and Paul Foundations and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Additional support was provided by City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Special Thanks

Michael Anderson, Christy Herbes, Tara Marandino, Oscar Nuñez, Kevin Park, Sandy Xu, and all our interviewees

money, business, government, labor

Participants

CUP
Teaching Artist, Project Lead
Jenn Anne Williams

Project Support
Valeria Mogilevich

International Community High School
Students
Acila Alrawhani
Bakeel Alsayidi
Patricia Divina Bello
Betsave Cordero-cuevas
Diony Corona
Amara Diaby
Fatoumata Diallo
Jose Disla
Maria Alejandra
Feliz Norberto
Darwin Gonzalez
Keilly Guzman
Juan Hernandez
Naomie Kalubi Muamba
Shanellee Matos
Sharmin Mijee
Jennifel Morales
Felix Manuel Moya
Luisanna Pascual
Jenesis Pena
Norhect Sanchez
Arianna Santana
Alseny Sow
Darleny Tejada
Hernan Torres
Pamela Urena
Heidy Vasquez Cardena

Classroom Teacher
Alhassan Susso
Community Coordinator
Yadira Echevarria