Community Service-LearningExperiential Learning Toward

Transformative Outcomes

Eric Lassahn, Ph.D. elassahn@willamette.edu

Civic Engagement, Servant Leadership, and CSL Programs

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Community Service-Learning

Goals: ❏ Increased awareness of the variety of service-learning opportunities in CSL

❏ Understanding and ability to articulate concepts of Sustainability, Experiential Learning, Service-Learning, Servant Leadership, and Civic Engagement

❏ Ability to reflect on the impact of community service and foster civic responsibility from local to global arenas

❏ Entertaining opportunities to connect experience (such as service) with knowledge-based content (such as academic coursework)

Sustainability & Social Justice

Sustainability = Viable Economic Systems, Inclusive Communities that Thrive, Maintaining our Natural Environment

Platinum Rule Education as the vehicle

• EcoChallenge (October 15-29)

Experiential Learning

Kolb, 2012

Civic Engagement“Civic engagement is acting on a heightened sense of responsibility to one’s communities that encompasses the notions of global citizenship and interdependence, participation in building civil society, and empowering individuals as agents of positive social change to promote social justice locally and globally.”

–Barbara Jacoby and Associates, Civic Engagement in Higher Education, 2009

Civic Engagement

Active Citizen Continuum • Break Away: the Alternative Break Connection, Inc.

Social Justice

- Identifying the issues- Relationship to broader

community- Changing societal

landscape- Civil Rights- Awareness, Advocacy,

Activism

Social Justice “Social justice includes addressing the differences among us such as race, gender, and sexual orientation while also valuing cultural differences and learning how to communicate within and across these differences. What separates social justice from diversity and multiculturalism is that social justice explicitly examines the power structures in society related to these differences, as these power structures result in privilege and oppression.”

– Ryan C. Holmes and Associates, “Why Objectivity is Not Enough,” 2008

Servant Leadership“The servant-leader is servant first... It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first...” (Greenleaf, 1970)

Characteristics of Servant Leadership:- ?

Examples: Outcomes

Expand knowledge of civic engagement opportunities

Development of Civic Identity (Sense of Responsibility)

Enhance participants’ motivation and desire to lead through service

MLK - Into the Streets: Day of Service

I have gained more knowledge to plan or help implement an initiative that improves the

communityStrongly AgreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeSomewhat DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

MLK - Into the Streets: Day of Service

I am more knowledgeable about opportunities to get involved in the community

Strongly AgreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeSomewhat DisagreeDisagree

MLK - Into the Streets: Day of Service

I have a better sense of who I am, which now includes a sincere desire to be of service to others

Strongly AgreeSomewhat AgreeAgreeSomewhat DisagreeDisagreeStrongly Disagree

MLK - Into the Streets: Day of Service

As a result of participating in today's service event, how likely are you to volunteer at a community organization in the future?

Verly LikelySomewhat Likely LikelyVery Unlikely

Service-Learning AssistantsSupport for course-based service-learning:

Assist students in completion of projects Facilitate or support ongoing reflection activities Introduce S-L concepts to class Attend relevant class sessions Assist with the coordination of student placements Ongoing support for student peers Distributing and collecting relevant S-L course documents Analyzing community partner, student, and faculty evaluations Content/materials development

Language in Motion (LiM) Volunteer program for study abroad

returnees, international students, and language assistants

Create and present language and culture activities for presentations in public school classrooms

Presentations available for WU classes 2015-2016.

Tiger Club

After school program at Bush Elementary School.

- After school program- Youth mentorship,

tutoring, etc. - 15-30 WU students- Elementary aged

children- Tuesday & Thursday

Afternoons

Take a Break (from privilege) Alternative Spring Break Program- Groups of 15-20 students- Trips address social and environmental issues- Approximately 5 trips- Student driven & led.

*Seeking Faculty Partnership for Course-Based Trip

CSL Coordinators

Core staff in Community Service-Learning

Responsible for: - Service Saturdays- Community Outreach / Campus In-reach- Advocacy & Awareness Programming- One-off Service Events (MLK ITS, Haunted Halls Carnival, etc.)- CSL Promotion (CSL Newsletter, social media, representation at events, etc.)

Civic Engagement Internships(CEI)

- Marion-Polk Food Share- Boys & Girls Club- Salem Interfaith Hospitality Network- State Capitol- Salem Leadership Foundation- Many others

Combines the opportunity to contribute community service with the all-important benefits of an internship. Can be credit-bearing and follow the experiential learning model.

Coming soon: Community Engaged Scholars...

Capacity building for Salem Keizer Education Foundation programs and related youth mentorship opportunities: Two students Renewable position (up to 2.5 years) Will contribute research, outreach, capacity building, program

development, and academic service-learning support for the Community Service Learning office

Access to conferences and professional development opportunities

Learning outcomes: better hone their capacity, confidence, and experience as leaders in the public service sector.

Global Service-Learning

Cross-Cultural experience combined with Service-Learning

(Fair Trade Learning is a great example)

Community Service-Learning

Questions?

Thank You!