Readings to prepare and motivate students for community engagement

Readings

Brief readings to help students consider the ethics of community engagement. Choose one that fits your course.

• • • The Pitfalls in Social Change“ (2 pages) Includes suggested reflection questions.
    • “What we don’t think about when we don’t think about service” by Adam Davis. (7 pages) Includes reflection questions.
    • Stanford’s Principles of ethical and effective service (~4 pages). Includes reflection questions.
      Overall reflection question: “Which of these principles are important for your specific community project?”
    • Starfish Hurling and Community Service – Keith Morton (2 pages). It’s a critique of “every little bit helps”
    • “Soul of a Citizen” excerpt (5 pages) Highlights four aspects of citizenship and social change: 1) Cooperation helped the local fishery become more sustainable, 2) Change occurs slowly as presented in Rosa Park’s training before her refusal to move to the back of the bus, 3) Anyone can be an agent of social change, not only saints, 4) And finally, we only let our excuses of inaction solidify if we don’t accept our imperfections and open our minds to continue to learn.

Videos

• • Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story”
    Discusses how a single story shapes our view of others and reinforces stereotypes.