About the Course
Overview
As students engage with poems about different social realities, they will develop their own poetry to explore social justice issues based on their experiences and our current socio-economic status. These poems and group discussions will help students rethink and develop a critical conscience regarding possible solutions to community issues– especially ones that may affect them. Additionally, students will learn how to develop a website to house their poems and visions for a future that includes the social changes they envision. Students will hopefully walk away with a more mission-driven mindset, having delved deeper into their own vulnerability and connection to social justice issues.
Project Experience
Students in all projects will work with 2 or more undergraduate tutors. Students will meet via zoom 3 x week in the late afternoon for 45-60 minutes. At other times students will work asynchronously with their tutors and each other via slack.
Sample Problems
Equity
Gender, Identity, & Wealth as Obstacles to Equitable Opportunities
Problem: Communities of color have been systematically denied the rights and access to build generational wealth as a result of institutional racism and discriminatory policies. An average white family in Boston has $247,500 in net worth, while the average black family has $8.
Problem: Hunger in America has increased since the start of the pandemic. One in 4 U.S. children are now living in food insecurity, up from 1 in 7 prior to the pandemic.
Problem: Girls’ Participation in physical activities becomes challenged once they reach middle and high school due to low self-confidence, body image, and lack of encouragement and support.
Racism
The History and Rise of Racism & Discrimination.
Problem: In law enforcement around the world, police brutality is a significant problem, often caused by racial discrimination and stereotyping. Black people are twice as likely as white people to be shot and killed by police officers.
Healthcare & Culture
The Lack of Mental Health Resources, Discussion, and Support.
Problem: According to a 2019 survey, one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, an overall increase of 40 percent from 2009. In addition, emergency department visits for attempted suicide have risen 51% among adolescent girls. However, more than one-third of Americans live in communities that have fewer mental health providers than the minimum their level of population would need.
Problem: Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health. For many, there is growing stigma around mental health, and mental health challenges are considered a weakness and something to hide. This can make it harder for those struggling to talk openly and ask for help.
Sample Resources
Videos/Movies
Excerpts of poetry
Guest Speakers
Lesson Plans:
Teach This Poem: “In This Place (An American Lyric)” by Amanda Gorman
Teach This Poem: "A Small Needful Fact" by Ross Gay
Sample Output
All students will be making a website.
Students can choose from the following activities in addition to creating the website; poems/infographic/blog should address a social justice issue.
Put together a collection of poetryParticipate in an open micCreate an Infographic or blog post based on a social justice
Project Schedule
The week by week schedule will vary somewhat as students are engaged in real world problem solving. Therefore it is never possible to predict exactly what will happen each week. It all depends on where explorations lead the work. But generally the project will look something like this:
Weeks 1-3: Research leading to selecting a problem, forming teams and developing a project proposal.
Weeks 4-8: Forming solutions, deciding on the final project format, and working with tutors to meet project milestones and solicit feedback from tutors and peers.
Week 9: Project presentations.