An Engaged Liberal Arts Education
Course topics in ELAS vary at Bard and focus on different aspects of social justice engagement that includes cultural, environmental, social, and sustainability issues. This semester, one ELAS course added a new pedagogical practice: civic internships. Professor Gregory Morton from Bard’s Anthropology Department, launched the Action Research: Social Service, Community Organizing, and Anthropology Course, which combines academic texts with weekly work in community organizations. Students committed to a semester-long internship with a local organization that carries out community organizing or social service with the goal of producing research that advances the project of the groups to which they were committed.
These dedicated students completed civic internships at Citizen Action of New York (Hudson Valley Chapter), Caring Hands Soup Kitchen/St. James Church Outreach, Family of Woodstock, Inc., and Ferncliff Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. The successful student-led projects delved into the work of environmental and social justice advocacy, as well as food justice in Kingston. Students also completed trainings to provide crisis hotline and support services to people in Woodstock, and launched an art and music therapy program for the elderly community.
Several students expanded their civic projects to drives and art shows that will benefit the greater Bard community. Inspired by the joy he’s witnessed in his music therapy program, Bard student and course participant Eric Doughtery has led efforts on campus to collect musical instruments and devices for residents at Ferncliff.
“I decided to do the music drive in order to give residents at Ferncliff more personalized choices in the music they listen to. Even though it's great that Ferncliff allows musicians to play live for residents, it still has some drawbacks. For one, some residents are very sensitive to loud volumes and disruptive noises that may come with live music. If residents had their own music players, however, they could comfortably enjoy their music without disturbing other residents. Also, another point of the drive is to add some longevity to my time volunteering at Ferncliff. I think it would be great to give something back in the form of music players that residents can share with each other and keep a musical connection going.”
Eric’s experience is only a snapshot of the great work done by all of the students involved this semester. Students not only researched the infrastructure of local agencies, they also grappled with their sense of agency, analyzed the steps one must take towards becoming action oriented within a non profit, and were frequently reminded of the importance of selfless work based on community needs. “We talked alot about truth in class and I’m so glad students got to wrestle with the relationship between truth and action as they made meaningful change in the world they live in,” said Morton.
To support the growth of ELAS classes, faculty participants receive a stipend for course development and support from staff and course fellows to handle logistical details of working with community partners. Students and faculty are also provided professional development opportunities through the Center for Civic Engagement and the Center for Faculty and Curricular Development. Since its inception, over 90 ELAS classes have been offered.
Learn more about ELAS courses and resources.
Post Date: 05-15-2019