Think Socially, Act Locally

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Think Socially, Act Locally
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Think Socially, Act Locally A Community Service
Project

• During his inaugural address in 1961, President
  John F. Kennedy challenged Americans with these
  immortal words And so, my fellow Americans ask
  not what your country can do for you - ask what
  you can do for your country. During the past
  few weeks, weve spent time examining our beliefs
  and values as individuals, and as part of the
  larger community we call Humanities. Its now
  time to see whether some of our shared Core
  values compassion, understanding, and hope
  can be translated into action in the world beyond
  our classroom.

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Think Socially, Act Locally A Community Service
Project

• For this project you will work in groups of 4 to
  identify a significant social issue or problem in
  the Sonoma County area that would benefit from
  our collective efforts. After identifying that
  problem, you will conduct in-depth research in
  order to educate yourselves and your classmates
  about its origin and nature, and how (and by
  whom) it is currently being addressed. You will
  then design a practical, realistic and viable
  project that enables all Humanities students to
  work collectively and actively to address that
  issue. Each group will prepare and deliver a
  presentation to the entire Core examining the
  issue and introducing your proposed solution.

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Think Socially, Act Locally A Community Service
Project

• At the conclusion of the presentations, your
  instructors will review the projects to determine
  whether they are truly realistic and viable.
  Those projects passing this initial review will
  be submitted to the Core for a vote, and 1 or
  possibly 2 projects will be selected. After
  that, well get to work seeing whether and how we
  can make a difference in the community!

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Step 1 Identify a Significant Social Problem
Affecting Our Community.

• The geographic focus must be Sonoma County.
• The problem should affect the welfare of human
  beings rather than the environment or wildlife.
• Sample issues include homelessness, substance
  abuse, child abuse, hunger and undernourishment,
  AIDS/HIV, access to healthcare.

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Step 2 Conduct In-Depth Research

• Using the library, the internet, and other
  resources find answers to
• these questions
• What precisely is the social issue?
• How did it develop? Why is it occurring?
• How many people are affected? Who are they?
  What is their demographic profile (i.e., age,
  gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class)?
• What are the future projections for this problem?
  How is it expected to grow or change?
• Which persons, non-profit groups, or governmental
  agencies are presently addressing this problem?
  What are they doing?
• What are the most pressing needs of individuals
  afflicted by this problem? What can we
  realistically do?
• In addition to conducting internet and library
  research, each group should identify one or more
  individuals in the community who are presently
  addressing this problem and interview them.

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Step 3 Design a Core-Wide Project to Address
the Social Problem

• Be both visionary, yet realistic.
• Substantial work on the project should be able to
  be carried out during our regularly scheduled
  Humanities periods, though some work may be
  performed at other times as well.
• Projects should actively involve all members of
  the Core.
• Sample Projects
• Issue Hunger and Undernourishment
• Projects Fundraising Event Evening Spaghetti
  Feed
• (including food, entertainment, and educational
  materials).
• Evening Group Packs at Redwood Empire Food Bank
• Publicity Schoolwide Fast for the Hungry
• (No one eats for the day snack and lunch money
  donated to the Food Bank).

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Step 4 Prepare and Deliver a Presentation to
the Core

• Presentation should be both informational and
  persuasive.
• Distribute 1 page Fact Sheet synthesizing your
  research.
• Present 1 page Action Plan describing your
  project and specific steps to achieve it.
• Incorporates several visuals (e.g., video, power
  points, and/or posters).
• 7 to 10 minutes in duration all group members
  must participate.

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Think Socially, Act Locally