Education-Youth

How do I transform my own life? How do I transform my community and the world?

Students in this Capstone will partner with Opal School (http://www.portlandcm.org/).  Students will write proposals to fund special projects determined by Opal School representatives and the class. Class uses an experiential approach: that is, students learn to write compelling grants by engaging in the process of writing actual proposals to be used by Opal School in its pursuit of funding. Opal School of the Portland Children’s Museum is a private preschool (ages 3-6) and public charter elementary school (grades K-5).

In this fully online course we will be exploring how to be effective change agents through volunteer work and by producing a series of radio shorts. Each student will be expected to arrange a project with a community organization before the Capstone begins. This project may be an existing relationship or one sought for the purpose of this class. A minimum of thirty hours of volunteer work is required over the course of the term.

This class will involve students in monitoring the ecological impacts of backyard habitats that are near Portland parks. Students will work in teams in particular targeted neighborhoods. They will monitor some of the following: native and non-native plants, birds, and insects. They will learn about the ecology behind backyard restoration, the procedure for establishing backyard habitats, and assist as residents implement new habitats.

Effective Change Agent

There are various community partners for this Capstone. The cooperative learning environment set forth for this class will help students create the ‘learning community’ necessary to achieve the course objectives. This cooperative approach (group activities, assignments and projects) will rely heavily on active participation and will therefore be dependent upon the level of responsibility that the student chooses to take for themself and for their classmates.

Asset mapping methods combined with geographic information systems (GIS) technology have proven to be effective ways to help citizens and organizations identify, analyze, describe, and mobilize around assets and issues of concern to them.

The Community Geography Project of the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies has a history of training PSU students, community groups, and middle and high school students in asset mapping and GIS technology to enable them to ask new questions and better strategize and promote community agendas.

Performing Arts Advocacy

The arts play a critical role in stimulating creativity and in developing vital communities.  They have a crucial impact on our economy and are an important catalyst for learning, discovery and achievement in our county.
 

Strengthening the Head Start Legacy: Growth, Health and Justice (HEADSTART)

Strengthening Headstart: Health, Growth And Justice Head Start is this nation's largest investment in young children to date.  It is also one of the few remaining efforts from the 1960's "War on Poverty".  
Students will:

review data and documentation of the historical successes and challenges of Head Start;

analyze and reflect on the impact it has had in communities;

engage in a qualitative/participatory research project;

design a collective action project in conjunction with Head Start community participants that will enhance or improve the health, growth or justice in that Head Start Community.

Girls Rock Camp. The Rock & Roll Camp for Girls is a local non-profit organization that works to build girls' self-esteem through musical & performance mentorship as well as empowers/prepares young women of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles within their communities.  Students in this Capstone will examine contemporary social issues related to the lives of girls today, as well as participate in Rock Camp programming & the creation of a final communication plan to secure on-going community support & sustainability for the camp. Please contact Molly Gray, mcg@pdx.edu, for more information.

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