This summer, English Teacher Eric Bergman is offering an exciting opportunity for seniors to explore new skills and make lasting memories. The American Exchange Project (AEP) is a program where kids from different parts of the country get to swap places and experience life in a new community. Creating new friendships, learning about different cultures, and seeing the world from a fresh perspective.
The decision to bring AEP to Morgan was inspired by Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation, which discusses the impact of smartphones on today’s youth. The book highlights several recommendations to improve the situation, including reducing phone usage among middle schoolers, encouraging free-range play, and implementing programs like AEP. Concerned about the effects of phones on both his professional life and his children, Mr. Bergman saw the potential of AEP to provide the enriching experiences that many kids are currently missing.
David McCullough III founded the American Exchange Project (AEP), starting in 2019. It’s a program that connects high school students from different parts of the U.S. to promote cultural understanding. Students travel to various regions, live with host families, and participate in local activities, helping them appreciate the diversity of American life and breaking down regional stereotypes.
To ensure the program’s safety and legitimacy, Mr. Bergman took several steps. He reached out to AEP, scheduled an online meeting, and thoroughly vetted the organization. This vetting process included background checks for host families and ensuring a secure environment for the students. By addressing these concerns, Mr. Bergman was able to present a well-vetted and trustworthy program to principal, Keri Hagness, alleviating any worries parents might have about their children staying with unfamiliar host families in other states. “I know the parents, and the homes and the kids, it’s all heavily vetted background checks. So it’s completely safe and, that once I knew that for sure, I brought it to Mrs. Hagness. She loved it,” said Mr Bergman.
Mr. Bergman took a trip with 12 students about 10 years ago to the Close Up Foundation in Washington, D.C. and he said he knows those students are still friends with the people they met down in D.C. from all over the country. He said, “I just sat back and watched this transpire in front of my very own eyes, and it was one of the highlights of my career.”
After the first meeting on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, introducing AEP, Senior Kierra Baker said, “I felt like the meeting was informational after the Zoom call with Molly Rabinovitz, the onboarding and travel support leader. Something that stood out to me on the Zoom call was the video where kids opened their letters and found out where they were going.” Baker is interested in the trip because it’s a free domestic trip and provides an opportunity to travel out of town to an unknown destination and experience something new.
Kierra’s mom was all for it at the beginning, but after the meeting, her mom was scared because there would be a host family, and she was also scared of the area. Kierra is worried about it not being safe and not connecting with her host family. However, she’s looking forward to making lifelong friendships and discovering a new state.
The American Exchange Project offers immense benefits for students at Morgan and beyond. It promotes understanding and unity in a divided country, providing students with invaluable experiences that help them grow into empathetic and well-rounded individuals. Through careful vetting and a focus on safety, AEP ensures that these transformative experiences are both enriching and secure. As our nation continues to face challenges, programs like AEP are essential for building a more connected and cohesive society.
