Students will work in small groups to explore such community problems
/issues as: voter apathy, homelessness, drugs and alcohol abuse, rape
awareness, accessibility for the disabled, and racial/ethnic/gender
discrimination, among others. Each group will be assigned to a local
non-profit organization that addresses their chosen issue. Each
student will serve as a volunteer with his/her organization for at
least 2 hours each week (or about 25-30 hours during the course of the
semester). Interviewing, group decision making and public speaking
assignments will focus on the issue and organization with which
students are working and researching. A culminating presentation will
consist of a symposium in which students discuss the mission of each
organization, its special features, challenges, needs/problems, and
opportunities for growth. These symposia will be delivered to an
audience that will include fellow class members, as well as leaders of
the community organizations with whom the students have worked.