UPDATE Jan 10: Gavin at the Baker Center turned me onto these guys—National Issues Forums. Looks like they’re doing something really close to what I’m after already, so I’m looking into working with them, rather than starting a program from scratch. Will keep you posted!
—Matt—
How serious am I about this project? Serious enough to make a video.
from Matt Deaton on Vimeo.
Matt,
Nice video. The pop culture angle is interesting, but like you, it is hard to nail down what high school kids are interested in. I have a book that might give you some general insight into reaching high school kids, and I would be happy to have you as a guest speaker in my Kids and Philosophy class this summer. From my experience, they like the same things we did when we were kids (girls, money, respect, music…), but they just have different names for them. You are good a finding and tying in clips from popular culture, so you should have no problem coming up with something they will enjoy.
Thanks, Court. Please do share that book, and I’d be more than happy to guest lecture in your class.
Now that you mention the sorts of things high school kids are into, maybe tying in pop culture would be a bad idea 
If done with authenticity, it would be great. But being who I am, any attempt to “speak their language” would inevitably come off as fake… like Mitt Romney around black kids… because it would be fake! They’d pick up on it and tune out.
I could use some things that I think are cool that might also appeal to them—Guitar Hero, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, college football? That might work. But the more I think about it, the more reluctant I am to try and incorporate their values, especially since I’m trying to change them.
—Matt—
Here’s ole Mitt. Just try to not cringe.