Coursework
The Community Leadership Internship Part 1- INVST 3931
(Online)
This course works to develop students’ competencies as community leaders working for a just and sustainable world. Throughout the course, we learn organizational leadership skills by interning at a community-based organization. Despite being an online course it. I gained a lot from it. I was able to complete my internship at the Lafayette Empowerment Center (LEC) in person, where I am now employed as a Program Assistant. In this course and in my internship I expanded my leadership skills and learned how to facilitate in-class presentations and in the programs, I was in charge of running in LEC such as A4SC, LPEP, and What’s Cooking? Aside from working at our internship sites we learned the basic skills of fundraising and were split into fundraising committees. My group's fundraising strategy was to host a virtual event that revolved around decolonization in ourselves and the natural environment.
Facil Peaceful Communication Change- INVS3302
(Online)
This course helps students gain knowledge and skills that enable them to become effective agents of community change. Focusing on understanding the processes of community building with a multicultural emphasis. Throughout this course, we are taught to analyze our own life experiences and grow from them so we can become powerful social change agents. Despite this being an online course, it was one of my favorite courses I’ve ever taken. Not only were the readings throughout this course extremely powerful, but they also shifted my perspective on how I was raised and the ideologies that have been passed on to me through family or by society in general. As we had continuous conversations/discussions about the state of this world. During the 2020 presidential elections, this class was a place to hold space for the broken system we are experiencing and the failed leadership presented in front of us. One of the major concepts from this course was to learn from within, from each other, and the state of the world. One of the biggest examples from this course that still remains with me to this day, was the analysis of how we've been domesticated throughout our lives. Everyone that has talked about this assignment mentions how it was one of the most eye-opening papers they’ve ever written. As it was a moment to look from within and find vulnerability in that which has hurt us or shaped us to want to become change-makers.
Community Leadership in Action Part 1- INVS 4931
This course develops students’ expertise as community leaders working for a just and sustainable world. Learning organizational and leadership skills by designing, implementing, and evaluating a community-based project. Throughout this course, our overall goal is to develop our SOL projects with some of our cohort members. I am working on a project that revolves around reproductive justice which is a topic I care deeply about as a woman of color. Rewriting Repro’s goals is working on increasing accessibility of educational resources on reproductive justice, engaging within the community about the cultural context of reproductive rights, having intergenerational conversations about reproductive rights and healthcare, learning and educating ourselves and the community about the history of restorative and women’s rights in the US, help to destigmatize reproductive justice in communities of color, and create a safe space for people to share their stories- hosting workshops and creating an archive of stories.
People of Color and Social Movements- INVS3671
(Online)
This course teaches us further about how people of color are struggling for sovereignty, independence, civil and human rights, food security, decent wages, and working conditions, healthy housing, and freedom from environmental racism and other forms of imperialism. Taking this course I’ve realized how little we are taught about the actual dark history of America and how it “came to be.” Realizing that our history is more whitewashed than I actually realized as it has erased POC narratives and the inhumanity that capitalism and colonizers continue to put POC through. Much of the “past” is still part of the present. Learning concepts such as “manifest destiny” and “the doctrine of discovery.” Despite this being an asynchronous class the readings required for this course such as Indigenous Peoples History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Stamper from the beginning by Ibram X. Kendi were incredible and eye-opening to learn about.
Leadership Capstone- LEAD4000
This course integrates leadership topics and experiences pursued through the Leadership Studies Minor. Bridging the gap between leadership theory and practice. Integrating our readings and class discussions we begin working with members of our classroom to work on a specific social justice issue we are passionate about. My group members and I worked on education inequality- through the lens of student civic engagement. Throughout our partner agency shadowing experience, our mentor/instructor Eleina Verveer, who is a founder of Lafayette Youth Advisory Commission (LYAC) invited us to the students' group meeting. Where the students were grouped up into teams where they tried to put forward a solution to topics such as mental health awareness, environmental justice, and the community concern of the youth curfew law to the Lafayette community. Taking this course has helped me realize that my passion for education equity is my drive in this world. As well as having the reassurance that the youth is powerful and we have to expand their leadership skills.