Sociology 2s: Social Problems—Service Learning

Spring 2010: Instructor: Guido Davis Del Piccolo

Why are we doing Service-Learning?

Service-Learning is a teaching and learning method that integrates community involvement and service with academic coursework as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking. Through participation in service related to current social problems AND critical reflection of the experiences, students gain a deeper and more practical understanding of the course content, as well as, a broader appreciation of sociology.

Through service-learning, students LEARN not only from the instructor and the text, but also from the clients served, from the community agency personnel, and from themselves. As part of the service-learning experience, students work with both individual clients AND the agency itself.

Objectives for Service-Learning in Sociology 2s:

  1. To increase understanding of the theoretical issues being addressed in the classroom;
  2. To stimulate critical thinking about the social arrangements discussed in the classroom;
  3. To gain insight into the interrelated nature and underlying causes of social problems;
  4. To gain a comprehensive view of the needs of the community being served (beyond just the service being provided);
  5. To increase understanding of the operation of community agencies (their existence, goals, objectives, limitations, challenges, obstacles and successes);
  6. To gain exposure to economic, racial and/or ethnic communities which may differ from the students own; and
  7. To encourage future community work and social service career exploration.

SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT (65% of course grade)

Service Hours:

·  Students perform a minimum of 20 hours of community-based service work on a regular weekly basis.

·  Students will get credit for no more than 3 hours per visit and for no more than 4 hours per week.

·  Students must engage in a minimum of 8 visits to their site/agency.

·  Students must complete their service hours by December 7th.

IN SUM: You should do your service work in 2- to 3-hour sessions once per week.

Academic Reflection Journals: (30% of course grade)

·  Students submit regularly-scheduled journals regarding their service experiences and observations.

·  Journals are not graded for WHAT you say, but rather for HOW you connect with and discuss the issues of the course. Specifically, the purpose of the journals is to REFLECT on your experiences/observations and to INTEGRATE those into the course material. Journals are graded according to the above criteria. (see instructions on Journal Writing for more details)

·  High quality journals—submitted on time—are required for full credit. Journals submitted late or lacking effort/integration/quality will receive only partial credit, if any. (see instructions on Journal Writing for more details)

·  Some journal assignments might involve developing and/or revising your journal in class through collaborative, small-group work. There may also be a “journal exchange” where students read and assess a classmates’ journal.

·  Journal submissions are typically 3 pages each.

·  Students may be asked to read and provide critical/constructive feedback to other students’ journals.

IN SUM: When you’ve completed your visit for the day, take 30-45 minutes to reflect on the experience, place it in the context of the particular journal assignment, type your journal, and TURN IT IN by the due date.

In-Class Service-Learning Presentations: (10% of course grade)

·  Students will be asked to discuss their site and their experiences with their classmates.

IN SUM: Your experiences and observations should not be a secret. We will learn from each other’s experiences.

Service-Learning Paper: (25% of course grade)

·  Students develop a final paper INTEGRATING their service experience with the statistical and theoretical discussions occurring in the classroom.

·  This paper is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the “Service-Learning Project” because the paper is where you demonstrate both critical thinking and a grasp of the course material. (However, the basis of the paper comes from your service and reflection journals.)

·  The Service-Learning Paper is typically 15-20 pages and is due December 21st.


Sociology 2s: Social Problems—Service Learning

Spring 2010: Instructor: Guido Davis Del Piccolo

Instructor Pre-approved Service-Learning Placement Sites

Logistics:

·  A MAXIMUM number of students per class are allowed to work at each site. Sites will “close for the class” as students submit their paperwork.

Alternative Site:

·  I am more than happy to allow you to join another site at your initiative. However, I must also ensure that the site will serve OUR purposes (i.e., your purposes) for this class and the course material. Therefore, if you wish to choose an different site, it should be something similar to and comparable with the list below.

·  Prior to me approving any site not on the list below, you must document to me in writing how the objectives of the assignment (above) will be met at another site and provide me with complete information on the site.

Pre-Approved Agencies for Service:

AGENCY & MAXIMUM # OF STUDENTS (PER CLASS) /

WEBSITE

/ ISSUE / ADDRESS
(need to verity) / CITY/AREA / CONTACT
(may not be current) / PHONE
1.  / A Place Called Home (2) / http://www.apch.org / multifaceted agency / 2830 S. Central Ave / Los Angeles / Paris Papiro or Derrion Wyatt / 323-232-7653 x310
2.  / Access Center (1) / http://www.opcc.net/site/access_center.html / homeless center/ food distribution / 1616 7th Street / Santa Monica / Kathy May or Cherie Harper / 310-450-4050 x128

3. 

/ Avalon-Carver Community Center / http://www.avalon-carver.org/ (limited; new website) / multi-purpose community center / 4920 Avalon Avenue / So. Central LA / 323-232-4391

4. 

/ Aviva Family and Children’s Services / http://www.avivacenter.org/ / multi-service agency for at-risk youth and families
MUST BE 21 or older / 7120 Franklin Avenue / Hollywood / W. Hollywood / 323-876-0550
5.  / Behavior Health Services, Inc. (3) / http://www.bhs-inc.org/ / drug / alcohol treatment / BHS HAS MULTIPLE SITES INCLUDING: Boyle Heights, Hollywood, Lincoln Heights, Wilmington, East LA, Inglewood, South Bay, Gardena. SEE BHS WEBSITE. / 310-679-9126or contact particular site
6.  / Boys & Girls Club (SM) (2) / http://www.bgcsantamonica.org/ / 1238 Lincoln Blvd / Santa Monica / Tammy Ito / 310-393-9629
7.  / Boys & Girls Club (Venice) (2) / http://www.bgcv.org/ / 2232 Lincoln Blvd / Venice / Armando Diaz / 310-390-4477 x232
8.  / Center for the Pacific-Asian Family, Inc. (MAY REQUIRE LONG TERM COMMITMENT) / http://www.cpaf.info/ / family violence & violence against women / 543 North Fairfax Avenue, Room #108 / Shawn Kim / 310-784-2525
9.  / Children's Enrichment Program / http://www.childrensenrichmentprogram.org/ / youth services / La Cienega and Rodeo / Los Angeles / Leila Sedighan / 323-933-1850
10.  / Chrysalis (3) / http://www.chrysalisworks.org/ / Job Readiness Program for jobless/homeless / 1837 Lincoln other sites in LA & Pacoima (see web) / Santa Monica / Piper Kamins / 310-392-4117 x332
AGENCY & MAXIMUM # OF STUDENTS (PER CLASS) / WEBSITE / ISSUE / ADDRESS
(please verity) / CITY/AREA / CONTACT
(may not be current) / PHONE
11.  / Community Center, Inc. (4) / http://www.ccsapt.org / multi-purpose community center/ youth leadership program (tutor/mentoring) / 7522 S. Vermont Ave / Los Angeles / Kina Chapman / 323-752-2115 x261
12.  / Community Coalition (2) / http://www.ccsapt.org/ / community organizing / So. Central LA / Jaime Estrada-Zambrano / 323-750-9087
13.  / Inglewood Community Education & Resource Center (3) / http://www.research.ucla.edu/cerc/ / UCLA student outreach project & Inglewood community partnership / 100 Nutwood / Inglewood / Mandla Kayise
(new world ed) / 323-293-6341
14.  / Korean Immigrant Workers Advocate (KIWA) (2) / http://www.kiwa.org/
(Spanish or Korean Language helpful) / labor defense, community organizing. Bilingual / 3465 West 8th Street, 2nd Floor / Los Angeles / Cindy Cho / 213-738-9050 x108

15. 

/ Koreatown Youth and Community Center / http://www.kyccla.org/ / multi-purpose youth and community services / 680 South Wilton Place / Koreatown / Carlos Soh / 213-365-7400 x126

16. 

/ Los Angeles Team Mentoring, Inc / http://www.latm.org/
(MAY REQUIRE 6 MONTH COMMITMENT) / mentoring youth ages 11-15 / MULTIPLE SCHOOL SITES / MULTIPLE (SEE WEB) / Michelle Tucker / 213-489-3744
17.  / Mar Vista Family Center (4 at different times) / http://www.marvistafc.org/
(about MVFC) / community center / 5075 Slauson Ave / Culver City / Lucia Diaz
Oscar Leiva / 310-390-9607
18.  / Police Activities League — PAL Santa Monica (2) / youth center / 1401 Olympic Blvd / Santa Monica / Karen Humphrey / 310-392-7673
19.  / Pico Youth and Family Center (4) / http://www.picoyouth.org/ / youth center / 715 Pico Blvd / Santa Monica / Yolanda de Cordova / Leslie Sultan / Mike Jackson / 310-396-7101
20.  / Street Poets Inc. (2) / http://streetpoetsinc.com/ / At-risk youth services, detention facilities, / 2116 Arlington Ave / Los Angeles / Chris Henrikson / 323-737-8545
21.  / Sweatshop Watch/ Garment Worker Center (2) / http://www.sweatshopwatch.org/ / labor defense, organizing. Fill out volunteer form found online and then call. / 1250 S. Los Angeles St., Suite 206 / Los Angeles / Stephen Miller or Kimi Lee or Cheryl Yip / 213-748-5866
Leave message with email if necessary.
22.  / Turning Point Transitional Housing, OPCC (1) / http://www.opcc.net/site/turning_point.html
MUST BE during evenings when clients are present / homeless housing/ counseling / 1447 16th Street / Santa Monica / Vivicia Cole / 310-828-6717
23.  / Venice Community Housing Corp. (4) / http://www.vchcorp.org/
DO NOT DO THE “HANDYWORKER PROGRAM” / youth programs (GED) and housing agency / 720 Rose Ave / Venice / Sal Galvan or Anne Murphy / 310-399-4100 x124 or x117
24.  / Watts Labor Community Action Committee / http://www.wlcac.org/ / Workers/family rights / Watts / 323-563-5639

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