Education-Youth
Regenerative Gardening, Mindfulness and Nature Connection
The time is ripe to be part of the growing sustainable food movement! This class addresses the current food issues that face urban citizens by holistically engaging students in the many layers of Portland's local food and farm culture. Students will critically analyze the state of our current food systems while being engaged in positive solutions to agricultural-related issues. The community partner and classroom is the Learning Gardens Lab, where students will gain hands-on farming experience, experientially explore their personal connection to food and the land, participate in the Learning Garden programs, and positively contribute to food security in our greater community.
Leadership an
The mentoring of young people takes many forms. Some young people grow up with a sibling, relative or another adult ally who serves as a mentor to them. Some benefit from formal mentoring programs in schools or from community organizations. Not everyone enjoys access to regular mentoring, yet research shows that mentoring has tremendous benefits for both the mentor and the mentee. These benefits include the development of leadership skills, increased interpersonal communication, improved relationship-building skills, and increased self-awareness. Armed with these skills, a young person has greater potential for success in many settings.
Queer Rock Camp is an annual summer camp that works to engage LGBTQ-identified youth through performance and musical self-expression, as well as empower youth of diverse backgrounds in peer alliance and community building skills. Students in this Capstone will examine contemporary social issues related to the lives of LGBTQ youth. Students will also participate in Queer Rock Camp volunteering, programming & the creation of a final communication plan that will document camp activities to secure on-going community support and sustainability for the camp.
August 22- September 22, 2017
During this course students will grow in their cross-cultural skills and understanding. They will learn about refugee resettlement and the systemic educational obstacles that English learners face and overcome.Students completing this capstone will have a well developed sense of their civic identity as it relates to newcomers in their local communities.
Social Justice In K-12 ED Capstone
Since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, the “achievement gap” has been at the forefront of discussions about school equity. The public has been tuned into this so-called “achievement gap” alongside shocking high school dropout rates, lack of access to equitable early childhood education, public disinvestment in the education system, disparities in access to higher education, and more. According to the Children’s Defense Fund’s 2012 State of America’s Children Report, the gaps (more accurately and truthfully described as opportunity, wealth, or access gaps) between high and low income students is 30-40% greater now than a generation ago. This same report details that a lack of access to early childhood education can lead to 25% of at-risk youth dropping out and 60% never accessing higher education. This study goes on to state that while 76% of high school students graduate within four years, only 2/3 of black and Latino students graduate within this same time frame (Children’s Defense Fund).
Rose Haven serves women and children experiencing the trauma of abuse, loss of home and other disruptive life challenges. Rose Haven's mission is to maintain a safe, respectful community while providing guests with support and services to assist them in regaining stability in their lives. THis capstone egages students in scholarship about food cultures and scoial justice, responding and partnering with Rose Haven to support their work.
Adelante Mujeres, a non-profit based in Forest Grove, is commited to the education and empowerment of Latina women immigrants. Students will work with staff to prepare Latina women for public advocacy. Students and the women will organize public presentations, including with state legislators. Some travel to Forest Grove and Salem is involved.
The Music in the Schools capstone introduces elementary aged children involved in SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) programs to musical games, concepts, instruments, and songs from various cultures around the world. Basic educational teaching strategies, child development concepts, and pedagogical techniques are developed and then translated by PSU students into fun, interactive lessons that, hopefully, will inspire the children, themselves representing various cultures, to go further into learning about music. The AM class works at the SUN program based at Alice Ott Middle School and t