>> It's messy.
It's freedom and it's rules.
>> It's rights
and responsibilities.
>> It's conflict and resolution.
>> Both empowerment
and compromise.
>> It is justice.
>> It is individual.
>> And it's collective.
>> It is fairness.
>> Respect and values.
>> It is equality.
>> Equality.
>> It's truth.
>> It is government.
>> And it's choices.
>> It's passionate.
>> It's problem solving.
>> It's action.
And it's possible.
It's me.
>> My family.
>> And my community.
>> Democracy it is!
>> Hi, I'm John.
>> I'm Alli.
>> My name's Ulysses.
>> And I'm Ashley.
People in a democracy
use activism to make changes
for the better.
>> For example,
working for social justice.
>> In other words,
making things fair.
>> When it comes to fairness,
young people can take action
even in an ordinary situation.
>> Sometimes,
the most ordinary things
present the biggest challenges.
>> And if you don't think
ordering food can be
a challenge, then watch this.
>> I just love basketball.
I always have.
I'm on the North Star
basketball team.
And I think
we're a pretty good team.
>> Minnesota North Star Academy
is a charter school for deaf
and hard-of-hearing students.
We're founded based on
the principle
of bilingual education,
using American Sign Language
and English.
We don't view them
really as disabled.
We view them
as a language minority.
>> It's a really small school.
But at the same time,
it really makes us feel
like family here.
>> Most of the time,
I like being in the deaf world.
>> It's not easy
to live as a deaf person.
>> I've seen the whole gamut
of experiences.
>> We've noticed a lot of people
have difficulty in restaurants.
>> They have a hard time
communicating with people,
especially in restaurants.
>> We'd be sitting there
talking, and we would point
very clearly on the menu.
I said I wanted
a strawberry milkshake.
So the server said, "Fine."
But then she brought out
a chocolate milkshake.
I said, "No, I pointed here.
I said strawberry."
So then she said she understood
and came back,
and then, brought me a coke.
>> It's like, how can you
not understand that?
>> They kind of
just roll their eyes,
because they know
it's going to take more time.
>> Shouldn't it be a service job
to welcome the customer
and provide good service?
>> You know,
just make an effort.
>> I feel it's unfair.
I feel like
they're rejecting us.
>> So, sometimes we have to say,
"Wait a minute."
>> It was just obvious
that something needed to be done
to fix the problem
of service in restaurants.
>> So that's how we decided
to make this video tape.
>> So, the initial greeting.
>> Just when you first
come in.
>> We decided to do
a training video.
>> With the video, we hope
that servers will learn
to treat deaf people right.
>> We wanted to interview
deaf people, so we collected
those interviews, and
made sure we had those points
on our script.
Then we contacted Paul Adams.
>> My name is Paul Adams.
I'm the director of franchise
operations for T.G.I. Friday's.
>> So they set up a meeting.
What would he see
as something beneficial
from a restaurant perspective?
>> Our company was interested
in this because it speaks to
one of our core beliefs.
And that is diversity.
What we get out of this
is how to take better care
of deaf guests that we have
in our store.
>> She's describing
a scenario to them
about the waiter coming over.
>> T.G.I. Friday's,
it's a big business,
a big company.
They're nationwide,
so it was nice
that we had that access.
>> I think the best thing
was the servers themselves.
>> My role today
was to portray the bad server.
>> Um, what do you want
to drink?
Just something to drink.
>> My task was the good server.
Hello, everybody.
My name is Heidi.
>> I was supposed to be
the server that didn't
tend to needs,
the server
that had a bad attitude.
Here, just write it down.
>> I was the one
who hopefully did everything
I was supposed to do.
>> I don't believe that I
really have had any training
on how to effectively
wait on deaf people.
>> You can't blame them
for something they don't know.
It's our responsibility
to teach them.
>> You shouldn't be afraid
of a deaf person.
>> Deaf people are normal.
You know, we're not creatures
from outer space.
We're normal human beings.
Hopefully, by seeing this video,
you'll understand
that we want to be treated
just like anybody else.
>> Our goal is to spread
this out to other restaurants
so that people will see
how to best provide service
to deaf consumers.
>> It's going to take time.
It's going to take energy.
It's not something
that will happen overnight.
>> But what we expect
is that there'll be
some improvement.
>> It's up to the deaf community
to inspire other people
and make things positive.
>> I feel like I've done
something for our community.
>> What they're doing can make
an impact with so many adults.
>> The lives of deaf people
are improving.
>> The future
is what motivates me the most.
I want them to have a good life,
a good experience.
>> They want social justice.
They want everybody to see them
as whole individuals,
not as deficits.
>> Some day, a deaf person
will want to be president.
Who knows?
>> The kids at North Star
experienced injustice
and took action.
>> But sometimes,
you have to do more.
>> Sometimes we need to
reach out to others.
>> Think of caring
and compassion.
Powerful words in a community.
>> Sting Cancer,
a powerful name for kids
with tons of compassion.
>> Let's take a look.
>> My uncle
died of brain cancer.
>> My grandpa has had cancer.
My aunt.
My grandpa
actually died from cancer.
>> I had a grandma who
passed away from brain cancer.
>> This is something
that everybody of every age
and background
is being affected by.
>> Well, I really got started
when my friend Dustin
was diagnosed with cancer.
>> This sucks.
It really does.
>> He's barely 18.
And he's already had
two bouts with cancer.
>> I think it's important that
you reach out to people.
>> Sting Cancer
is an organization that
is mostly comprised of students
from Preble High School.
>> And we started out
with about 20-25 students
three years ago.
And now, we're up to
about 115 students.
It keeps growing.
>> And we just try
and make people's lives
as easy as possible
if they have cancer.
>> The "sting" part
of Sting Cancer
comes from our name,
Preble High School.
We're the Hornets.
So, the sting part
is fighting against cancer.
>> We do so many different
kinds of activities,
whether it's raising money
for people
or just simply, like, going
and spending time with them,
you know.
>> A hundred percent
of what they donate,
they know is going right back
into their community.
>> One of the things
that Sting Cancer does
to help people is we go around
and we shovel the homes
of people who have cancer.
We bring them things.
We cook them dinner.
Anything, just little things
that can help them
around the house at all.
>> We did this breast cancer
run-walk.
We directed traffic
and it was really cool.
>> Our students were contacted
by the American Cancer Society
to help out.
They handed out water
at different stations.
Every week, we get together
for about 45 minutes.
>> And then, if any of you guys
have other ideas...
>> You can see
that you're doing something.
You can see the outcome of what
you're trying to accomplish.
>> He's down at
Milwaukee Children's Hospital.
So you know as a group
we gave a $100 gas card
to their family.
>> It's all
for a good cause, though.
Ten bucks worth?
And another five.
We need two more.
We're doing a 50-50 raffle
to raise money
for our friend Dustin.
We're doing very well.
A lot of people want to help out
with this, which is great.
That's fine.
Thank you very much.
>> Tonight, we are holding
a benefit dance for Dustin.
That's our goal, to raise enough
money as we can with a dance.
He's got a lot of medical costs.
>> I would have to say
it'd be tough
to pay all the bills.
Chemo started two weeks
after football was done.
You lose your hair.
Chemotherapy poisons your body
to kill anything bad.
You can't hang out
with your friends
because of the germs.
You can't go to school.
>> I'm trying to make a crane.
(laughter)
We folded over 1,000.
>> The Japanese proverb
states that if you make
1,000 of these cranes,
then you can make a wish.
Then you fold the wings down.
>> That's nice!
>> Like that, yeah.
>> It's kind of hard to tie 'em
but it's going to look
so cool when it's done.
It's going to be awesome.
>> Everybody, like,
pitched in for it,
and all that kind of stuff.
>> It's going well.
Almost 250 people.
We made a big card for Dustin
to take home.
Everyone can write a message
and can say whatever they want.
>> Whoo! Dustin!
>> I would have to say
the whole cancer experience,
and all these people
and what they did for me
was definitely humbling.
It feels really good.
(cheering)
>> It's rewarding to know
that you're helping people.
It makes you feel like
you're part of a group
working towards one cause.
>> It felt good knowing
that all those people
were cheering you on
and hoping
that you're going to make it.
I'm a cancer survivor.
I always said when I got sick
that I'd give back
as much as I was given.
And that's all
I'm really trying to do.
It's nice to have hair again.
It really is.
>> Sting Cancer shows
how one small idea can spread
throughout a whole community.
>> You think something
like Sting Cancer
can start up near you?
You never know unless you try.
>> Now, what if a natural
disaster hits your area?
Would you feel powerless?
>> After Hurricane Katrina,
many people in New Orleans
felt like that.
But two young brothers
decided to take action.
>> With a lot of help
from their friends,
and simple tools like these,
they're making a difference.
>> That was the roof!
>> It's hard to kind of grasp
what was actually happening.
Where we're standing right now,
there used to be a house.
I knew Hurricane Katrina
would be bad.
When the levy broke,
just a wall of water came.
It's a helpless feeling.
It was overwhelming.
This was probably
just a one-bedroom house.
And the top half
looks to be an addition.
The force of the water just
caused the foundation
to give out, bringing
the top floor onto the bottom.
>> When that hits you,
you realize it's never
going to be the same.
>> This is a porch of a house
that once stood here.
All that's left is the pilings
for this house.
>> Just think about what
you had, what you lost.
And you'll never get it back.
>> That's when Y.R.N.O.
kind of took off.
>> Our kids picked up on the
name, Youth Rebuilding
New Orleans, which basically
says what they wanted to do.
>> We're helping gut the houses
and clean up.
>> Clean up houses
for all the people.
>> I'm here because
I just want to help out,
because I love my city.
>> We're helping everyone
in that region recover
from the devastation.
>> They contacted the media.
They contacted
local news stations.
>> The main focus behind
that was get as many people
involved as possible.
>> We're happy
to have you all here.
I can't believe you spent
a Saturday morning
doing something so commendable.
>> It's important to get
everyone actively involved.
>> The neighborhood is kind of
in a state of flux.
A lot of people still need help.
>> They had their whole life
turned around.
>> This is my home
that I lived in for 52 years.
It's just totally devastated.
>> We provide that
physical labor to get them
into their house.
>> They need help.
They can't do it by themselves.
>> They made this
a lot easier for me.
>> We're helping the people that
want help, but can't find it.
Gutting a house is extremely
labor intensive.
We're not afraid
to do the hard work.
And when we decide
we want to do something,
we're going to get it done.
>> That was awesome!
>> I usually am on fridge duty
when I come out here.
It's not pretty.
Oh, God.
That's going to be bad.
>> That was pretty gross.
>> It gets dirty, but it's got
to get done, somehow.
>> Watch it!
>> I think the harder I worked
the more fun I had.
>> At what other time
can you take a sledge hammer
and break up a porcelain toilet?
>> We felt really bad
because all these people
have lost all that stuff.
>> That happened to me, also.
We had to clean our house
ourselves.
Just because nobody came
to help me don't mean
I can't help somebody else.
>> Every house you gut,
there's a story behind it.
>> The room on the corner
was my office.
That thing is filled with books,
because I had my entire library.
>> I felt really bad.
I saw how much information
you had in your house,
and such a waste.
So many beautiful portraits
and such antiques.
My heart goes out to you.
>> Thank you for helping
to get that mess out.
>> This just puts that hope
back in these homeowners.
You don't see the youth
having a celebration
in these flooded areas.
>> We come out.
We have fun.
We play some music,
eat some food.
>> It's work you feel good
about doing.
>> We believe
in what we're doing.
>> Hopefully, they'll be able
to get in their house
a little bit sooner.
>> It's a really great
morale builder.
>> New Orleans is one of
the largest port cities
in the country.
The culture of New Orleans,
Mardi Gras,
the French Quarter.
>> If you were in our shoes,
you'd want to return.
You'd want to live
where you lived.
It's your home.
We made a difference
in these people's lives
and they're never
going to forget that.
And neither will we.
>> The Youth Rebuilding
New Orleans are true activists.
>> Just like the students
at North Star Academy.
>> And those who want
to Sting Cancer, too.
>> They all started with a need,
a plan, and a passion
for social justice.
>> And that's how we all
can have a powerful voice.
>> Democracy it is!
For more information about our program visit our Web site at: democracyitis.ecb.org