Social Justice Education for Adolescents

Local Justice is an advanced exploration of diversity and social justice in the United States. Capstone students are provided with a framework for understanding specific forms and the interlocking systems of oppression; exploring how oppression affects our lives; taught teaching and training conceptual frameworks about oppression and diversity; and an application of these ideologies and skills in community settings. Please contact gomezc@pdx.edu for further information (this class is only offered Fall quarter).

Learning Goals of Local Justice are:

  1. Broaden and deepen the understanding of social justice issues.
  2. Work with community partners on a field project.
  3. Research and learn about social justice and facilitation techniques.
  4. Critique and refine civic engagement process and reflect on activities and learning.

Project

Social Justice Education Workshop

Capstone students, in partnership with a class colleague, research and develop a 40 minute-long facilitated social justice education workshop. Student teams present workshops in class in preparation for community presentations. Student teams are provided with in-class training and supplemental reading material, and meet weekly outside class to engage in the workshop development process. This process includes developing a workshop time line, outline, and handouts; rehearsing and finalizing workshop for in-class presentations and community fieldwork; and planning for field presentation. Teams submit a workshop outline the day of in-class presentations to instructor. Handouts are required for all workshop participants in class and in the field.

Social Justice maintains four main goals:

  1. To broaden and deepen the understanding of social justice issues;
  2. To work with community partners on a field project;
  3. To research and learn about social justice and facilitation techniques; and
  4. To critique and refine civic engagement process and reflect on activities and learning.