What is your cause? If you could use your knowledge, education, and community outreach skills to pursue social justice, what would that look like? How would your research inform and teach others about your call to act? The Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire posited that it is not enough for people to come together in dialogue in order to gain knowledge of our social reality. We must act together in our environment to reflect upon our reality and so transform it through further action and critical reflection.

This one-quarter program invites students interested in examining a social justice perspective through the lens of education, democracy and creative possibilities for learning. Students will imagine a teaching career committed to equity and the vision that public education is central to a true democracy where citizens are active problem solvers and organizers in their communities.

This program will explore how socially conscious organizations begin to address local problems such as oppression, hunger, and discrimination by providing outreach, education and volunteering opportunities (Ex: GRuB, CIELO, Nourishing Networks, etc.). In order to learn more about alternative approaches to education and problem solving, we will read, study, and research an educational approach called Place- and Community-Based Education in Schools or PBCE.

Place- and Community-Based Education is a theory and educational practice (praxis) which provides authentic learning and teaching opportunities for students, teachers and communities to help prepare youth to become active participants in local problem solving activities.  Through this program, students will no longer question why certain subjects must be studied, or why a class is important. PCBE helps students learn intrinsically by connecting their interests, skills, knowledge, and culture.