Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

In Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, Capstone students will be working with the community partner, Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC) to create safety and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) youth in Oregon through youth empowerment, community building, education and direct services. 

The main objectives students will obtain from this course are:

  • Expand knowledge of sexual minority, gender minority and youth populations in Portland, the U.S. and Internationally;
  • Locate youth within a framework of cultural/social identities such as gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, faith, socio-economic class, ability & region of origin;
  • Identify the historical and contemporary cultural and political institutions which perpetuate the marginalization of oppressed groups;
  • Understand how social identities inform our own individual experience as well as gain insight on social difference, particularly to better bridge difference;
  • Examine homophobia, transphobia & heterosexism within an interlocking framework related to sexism, racism, classism and other oppressions;and,
  • Critically engage and actively work towards the eradication of social problems such as homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism.

Project

Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Students participate individually or in groups in a number of approved service learning activities that are assigned points based on the task's level of time commitment, educational opportunity for the student, and contribution to the community partner. These tasks may include, but are not limited to: volunteering during drop-in at SMYRC for special events, planning a canned food drive, fundraising, event planning, grant writing, and a number of other activities based on SMYRC need and student interest/skill.

The instructor will provide a worksheet to record student activities to help ensure clarity and the engagement of 30 points total of service learning by the end of the term. Outside of assigned coursework, students are expected to keep a service learning log of reflections on service learning activities completed. This log will be reviewed, with advanced warning, periodically by the instructor and submitted for final grading the last week of the term.

Students in the Capstone will have the opportunity to engage in supportive services at the SYMRC drop-in site, perform outreach and research in collecting information, interview SYMRC program participants about their experiences and compile this information into the final product, a resource guide highlighting available resources and the experiences of the youth intended for the youth, social services, schools, and the larger community.

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