Course Description:
Mission Statement: Through solidarity with those who experience injustice, we empower O’Dowd youth to grow as a community of learners and agents of change.
Vision: We will serve the community by advocating for and working with marginalized groups in order to leave an impactful legacy that inspires future leaders.
Objectives:
- Transform curriculum and classrooms to create even more diverse, safe, and inclusive classroom environments.
- Educate the Bishop O’Dowd community on a wide range of social justice topics through social media and events such as Dragon Talks and the Bay Area Social Justice Teach-In.
- Learn how to appropriately communicate with organizations outside of Bishop O’Dowd in order to collaborate on projects.
- Engage local schools to advance Bay Area social justice causes.
- Host events which provide a safe space for all youth to share their ideas and collaborate on projects.
- Advocate for what we believe at the local and national level.
Specifically, while working in teams to pursue a social action campaign, students will be able to:
- learn about issues
- build power
- implement various strategies and tactics
- conduct research (historical analysis, power mapping, target analysis)
- work with the media
- perform campaign implementation and evaluation plans
- practice self-reflection, small-group facilitation, and public speaking
Taught By:
Michael Downs
Director of Justice and Kinship
Bishop O'Dowd High School
mdowns@bishopodowd.org
Read profile here.