CESP Blog

The focus of this session is the increasing lack of public space and spaces for public opinion. In the session we discussed mottoes and slogans (their meaning and function) and how this affects us in an election year. We analyzed the meaning and purpose of these mottoes and slogans and questioned their “public� and “private� influence. We also spent time in this RAP session on a creative project creating mottoes and slogans and exploring creative methods of reclaiming space for public discourse.

To get credit for this RAP Session please make sure you leave us a summary with how it went, what you learned, etc in a comment on this entry or shoot Laura an email at damm0032@umn.edu.

If commenting, please put your full name and umn.edu email address so we know who to give credit to!

Hope you all enjoyed the RAP session and come to some more, the next is Art and Citizenship in an Election Year on Thursday November 6th from 4 to 6pm at the Weisman Art Museum. Sign up for it at www.servicelearning.umn.edu/trainings!

Note from the facilitator:

Thanks to everyone that came out and participated in this RAP session. I hope you all found the topic interesting, even if it was a little chaotic. I really enjoyed talking and working on our stencils!

Ideas for reflection: How does public space work (or not work) at your community organization? You can talk about just about anything relating to the community organization you volunteer at and public space. Do they advocate public space? Do they "use" public space? If you think to yourself "I don't think my community organization "uses" public space", what could you do as a volunteer to encourage them to think about it/embrace public space and public ownership?

I think this is a great way to tie the topic back to your community work, however you are free to write about anything! If you thought of something else that really intrigued you, please write about it! I'm excited to hear what you guys think.

Thanks,
Josh C.

Posted by reut0076 at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Using circle processes and dialogue, we learned about each others’ connection to social justice. How did we get “turned on� to justice work? Who were our mentors? And how does spirituality play into this connection? What can we do as individuals or communities to better support his work through spirituality?

To get credit for this RAP Session please make sure you leave us a summary with how it went, what you learned, etc in a comment on this entry or shoot Laura an email at damm0032@umn.edu.

If commenting, please put your full name and umn.edu email address so we know who to give credit to!

Hope you all enjoyed the RAP session and come to some more, the next is In Your Face: Reclaiming Public Space Tuesday, October 28th from 5-7pm in 1701 University Room 207. Sign up for it online at www.servicelearning.umn.edu/trainings!

Posted by reut0076 at 1:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My Reflections (Katie Peacock, facilitator)
Sometimes it feels like there is more than a road dividing the University of Minnesota from the Cedar Riverside neighborhood. My sense was confirmed as we went around the group of students to ask what brought them to this RAP session. Most of the students expressed an interest/curiosity in the neighborhood but just haven’t taken the time to explore. How is it possible that most students can identify the restaurants, stores and other assets of Dinkytown or Stadium Village but have very little sense of the community just across the street from the West Bank Arts Quarter, Carlson School of Management, and the Humphrey Institute? How have U of M students, staff and faculty been acculturated to understanding our bordering communities? Is there a difference in the imagery, language, and marketing that you see for Dinkytown, Stadium Village, and Prospect Park, versus Cedar Riverside?

Reflection Questions
One of the most important aspects of CHANCE is that it is tied to a place. It is intentional that our partnerships and work are tied to the neighborhood where Humphrey is located. Thinking of your own community experience: What draws you to the place where you do your community work? Does it matter that the organization you work with is based in a particular neighborhood? Is it a conscious choice for you to work in that neighborhood? Is it a conscious choice that the organization works in that neighborhood? Do you participate in the neighborhood beyond that community work with an organization? If your relationship with the neighborhood goes beyond your community work, how does that impact your experience?

To get credit for this RAP Session please make sure you leave us a summary with how it went, what you learned, etc in a comment on this entry or shoot Laura an email at damm0032@umn.edu.

If commenting, please put your full name and umn.edu email address so we know who to give credit to!

Hope you all enjoyed the RAP session and come to some more, the next is Connecting Justice Through Spirituality Monday October 24 from 11am to 1pm in Burton Hall 123. Sign up for it online at www.servicelearning.umn.edu/trainings!

Posted by reut0076 at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Here are the fall 2008 RAP sessions. Click continue reading to see the awesome new RAP sessions for this semester! Make sure to sign up for one.

Connecting to Justice through Spirituality
Will Be Rescheduled: Time and Date TBD

Using circle processes and dialogue, we will learn about each others’ connection to social justice. How did we get “turned on� to justice work? Who were our mentors? And how does spirituality play into this connection? What can we do as individuals or communities to better support his work through spirituality? All are welcome- please bring readings, song, teachings or other things you’d like to share with the group.

A CHANCE Tour of Cedar Riverside Neighborhood
Friday, October 24th , 11 AM to 1 PM
Meet in the atrium of the Humphrey Center

How well do we know our neighbors? Cedar-Humphrey Action for Neighborhood Collaborative Engagement (CHANCE) is a group of students, staff, faculty and community partners that started with the realization that, in fact, in terms of the University’s relationship with the adjacent Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, we do not know our neighbors nearly well enough. In this RAP session, we will take a tour of some community-based organizations and meet with leaders in the neighborhood. We will follow the tour with a discussion and reflection on partnership and community-building. Dress for the weather!

In Your Face: Reclaiming Public Space
Tuesday, October 28th, 5 to 7 PM
1701University Room 207

The focus of this session is the increasing lack of public space and spaces for public opinion. In the session we will discuss mottoes and slogans (their meaning and function) and how this affects us in an election year. We will analyze the meaning and purpose of these mottoes and slogans and question their “public� and “private� influence. We will spend time in this RAP session on a creative project creating mottoes and slogans and exploring creative methods of reclaiming space for public discourse.

Art and Citizenship in an Election Year
Thursday,November 6th , 4 to 6 PM
Weisman Art Museum

Citizenship is at the forefront of many conversations this fall as we prepare for local and national elections. Many types of people and organizations are a part of these conversations. The Weisman Art Museum currently has three exhibitions connected to themes of citizenship and democracy. In this RAP session we will visit the exhibitions entitled, “What do YOU say AMERICA?,� “Hindsight is Always 20/20,� and “Who is a Citizen? What is Citizenship,� and discuss how they illustrate or conflict with our ideas of citizenship and democracy.

The Revolution Will Not Be Funded: Reflections on Models of Organizing
Friday, November 14th, 2 PM to 4 PM

What are the strengths of working for community change within the structure of a non-profit organization? What are the limitations? In this RAP session, we’ll talk a bit about the history of social organizing in the United States in order to contextualize the organizational structures we are working within today. We’ll then discuss the ways in which the structure of an organization directly impacts how community work is done and who it ultimately benefits. We’ll end the session by discussing alternatives for “non-traditional� organizational models.

Community Work Local to Global: Biology without Borders
Friday, November 21st, 2 PM to 4 PM
Kolthoff Hall 133

Biology without Borders is a student group at the University that is concerned with public health both locally and globally. During this RAP session, leaders from Biology without Borders will talk about their work with diabetes education in Tanzania, and lead a discussion around issues of public health and community work here and abroad. All are welcome to this session. Students interested in community work abroad and/or community work in health care are specifically encouraged to attend.

Registration coming soon at: www.servicelearning.umn.edu/trainings

Posted by reut0076 at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)