Brooklyn teens turn bracelet-making into hands-on civics lessons

"Beads and bracelets filled the tables at the Jamaica Bay branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, but the lesson being taught went far beyond arts and crafts. What looks like a craft table is actually a youth-run civics education program called " Beading for Law," designed to teach teenagers about their constitutional rights while keeping their hands busy. The program was founded and is led by 16-year-old Saneya Mohamed, who said her motivation comes from personal experience."

""Growing up in a low-income community, I've always seen how not knowing your rights, for example, can impact people," Mohamed said. Her effort comes as civic knowledge remains low nationwide. Data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation shows more than 70% of Americans would fail a basic civic literacy test. Over the past year, Mohamed has brought the program to several local libraries, reaching dozens of students."

"Brooklyn Public Library spokesperson Fritzi Bodenheimer said the initiative aligns closely with the library's role in the community. "We often say that we are the most democratic institution in the borough, and this is an extension of that, teach people about what it really means to be in a democracy," Bodenheimer said. During sessions, Mohamed teaches basic overviews of the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments alongside her friend Tasfia Jahan."

Beading for Law is a youth-run civics education program that teaches teenagers about constitutional rights while incorporating bead-making activities. The program was founded and is led by 16-year-old Saneya Mohamed, who was motivated by experiences in a low-income community where lack of rights knowledge can cause harm. The initiative has chapters in five states and three within New York, and has reached dozens of students through local library partnerships. Sessions cover the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments and discuss how these rights apply in everyday teen experiences. The Brooklyn Public Library supports the program as an extension of democratic community education.

Read at Cbsnews