,
To prepare for life as an agent of social and community change, students benefit greatly from classes helping them develop their understanding of themselves, their fellow students, their community and the broader society. These include exploring their personal history and identity while delving into issues of race, class, power and privilege, internalized oppression, trauma and healing. It also includes analyzing structural racism and other biases and how they affect public policy and the behavior of institutions and individuals, and learning how leaders and organizers can draw upon the strengths of their own culture and community.
These classes help students understand the communities and context where they work while also developing their capacities for reflection, critical thinking, active listening, conflict resolution and the building of groups, organizations, alliances and coalitions. Most importantly, they develop the students’ sense of agency, of being able to change things for the better.
To prepare for life as an agent of social and community change, students benefit greatly from classes helping them develop their understanding of themselves, their fellow students, their community and the broader society. These include exploring their personal history and identity while delving into issues of race, class, power and privilege, internalized oppression, trauma and healing. It also includes analyzing structural racism and other biases and how they affect public policy and the behavior of institutions and individuals, and learning how leaders and organizers can draw upon the strengths of their own culture and community.
These classes help students understand the communities and context where they work while also developing their capacities for reflection, critical thinking, active listening, conflict resolution and the building of groups, organizations, alliances and coalitions. Most importantly, they develop the students’ sense of agency, of being able to change things for the better.
|
This video is a wonderful example of how many people learn how to organize for social change through direct personal experience and facing the need to confront racism, abuse by people with power and wealth, and issues which are vital to them. This interview with Mary Gonzales reflects how she and her mother became influential community leaders in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood and Mary eventually became a nationally known organizer, trainer and the co-founder of the national organizing network Gamaliel. |
|
|
|
Master story-teller, Native American leader, professional organizer, educator and in recent years documentary film-maker - Syd Beane stresses the central importance of story and story-sharing in reinforcing people's sense of identity and agency and their possible roles in community leadership, community organizing and social change. |
Sample Syllabi on Identity and Agency
Resources for Course Design
|
Culture, Community and Identity as an Agent of Change
|
| ||
|
Building Communication Skills, Consciousness and Relationships
|
| ||
Useful Articles and Stories
|
Mental Health and Community Development
|
| ||
|
The Council is in Session by Emily Kaplan
|
|
Field Education and Community Based Planning in a Worst Case Scenario
|
|
Student Stories on Identity and Agency- Fanya Baruti
|
| ||
|
How Leadership Students at Macomb College Are Channeling Their Histories Into Action
|
| ||
navigate to other Core Subjects
|
|
|
|
|