Community Service (Course 17.903)

Instructor: Tobie Weiner (E53-484, 617-253-3649, iguanatw@mit.edu)

Course Description

If you've always wanted to work as a volunteer in the Boston/Cambridge area but didn't know where to begin TAKE THIS CLASS. In this seminar students combine experiential learning with reading, writing and reflection on urban politics and policy. Work as a volunteer in a community service agency or an advocacy group and receive MIT credit. Tutor kids, teens or adults; Cook dinner for guests in a shelter; Help design community programs for youth; Conduct research on nutrition, hunger and homelessness policies; Volunteer with the elderly; Record books for the blind; Teach a dance or art class; Do something about race relations, poverty, human rights issues, or the environment. Tell us what you want to do and we'll do our best to find a placement for you. We'll meet seven times for 1 1/2 hours during the semester to discuss your placement, politics, policy and other issues. We examine contemporary urban issues including race, diversity, education reform, and/or health care policy. Each semester the topics and the readings are different. Last semester we concentrated on urban economic issues, domestic partnership laws, the upcoming national presidential election, and welfare policy. The students in the class choose the central issues on which we focus at the orientation session.

Requirements for the Class

Participation in a community service agency or advocacy group of your choice (verified by on-site supervisor). Students must work between 4-9 hours per week throughout the semester, depending upon units. (4-6 hours required for 6 units of credit, 7-9 hours required for 9 units of credit).
Two letters from supervisor. The first describes your duties and your schedule (due October 3) The second evaluates your work (due at last seminar session).
Your evaluation of the seminar and of your placement (due at last seminar session).
Participation in the seven seminar sessions and a dinner meeting. You should be prepared to discuss your placement as well as the assigned readings. Each student is expected to read selections from four short reading packets (total pages for the semester: 80-100).
Five writing assignments (total pages: approximately 10-15).

Keep a journal of your experiences - write an entry each week sharing personal reflections on your work - what you did, impressions of your work, what you are learning, etc. This is turned in at the last class session.
Three short response papers to the assigned readings for three of the class sessions (1-2 pages each). These papers are turned in at the beginning of each of the sessions.
A two-three page response to several questions we will ask you about your community service organization.

Contact the instructor for more information.