ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Every school has its ups and downs. Rochester's All City High School is no different.
“All City has some unique challenges in the fact that we're semester-based and we're a program school,” said Crystal Madsen, who teaches English at the school. “So sometimes students transfer in and out of classes.”
For Madsen, bringing her students together meant helping them find their superpowers and tap into them.
“Mine is helping others,” said student Eilonie Oliver.
The class recently used AI to help create their own comic book characters. Students were able to choose the look of their characters, as well as the characteristics which help make them unique.
“She’s based off of her principles, her morals,” said student Nuria Mohamad.
“He’s got telekinetic powers,” said Demetrius Moore of his character. “He can be like a portal.”
“My character is based on him fighting himself,” said Kevaughn Pinnock, who moved to Rochester from Jamaica last year. “I was able to socialize more with people, [to] get to connect.”
“My character, she’s based on me,” said senior Janiyah Hollins. “And she’s like a sensitive character.”
The project is a collaboration between librarians, teachers, the Monroe County Central Library’s ImagineYou lab and Cooley Comics, whose mission is to empower young people to share their stories and discover their purpose. Students built every characteristic of their characters using AI.
“It can be a useful tool. It’s not just taking away from artists. I think a lot of people fear that with AI," said art teacher Sydney Friedrich. “So I think it’s important that our students learn to use AI as a tool.”
Madsen says for many students, attendance improved. Kids who barely talked to each other came together and worked together.
“And they laughed. They uplifted each other. They positively reinforced their ideas. They were proud of each other's work,” said Madsen. “Seeing that, I needed that as much as they, I think, needed that.”
When their comic book characters were unveiled during a ceremony in the school’s gym, the excitement was obvious. It was a gallery of superheroes and a reflection of the students who created them in their own image.
“My character is like this dude, his buff dude,” said Pinnock. “I never expected that one.”
During the ceremony, students were given their own copies of their own comic books.
“I love it. It’s a good thing to have,” said Moore. “Hopefully I get to show my kids in the future.”
“They trusted us, and we made it happen,” said Madsen. “And it was probably one of the best experiences, seeing them just be very proud of their work.“