Readings due for 4/3 class discussion- 1) 'How to be heard -- a guide to advocacy for community organizations (Center for Community Change)' and 2) 'Community Organizing (CPA)' - To read these go to Electronic reserves.

Readings - TBA.

1. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION  PROJECT PROPOSALS:  Due on 4/3
- a writeup of your proposals for your work with an Asian Pacific Islander community organization or campaign.  Examples of organizations to work with were discussed in class.  You can use the website links to various community orgainzations too.   Email or call me if you are still having questions about this.  In your proposals [minimum 500 words but many of you will write much longer proposals]- address the following:

• Describe the organization, including what type of work it does and how it carries out its work; [cite sources for your research, etc.]
• Explain what you intend to learn or accomplish by researching and then volunteering with this organization;
• and Describe/Reflect on the process you have taken to contact and learn about the organization, or if you are already active with the group describe what level of involvement you have had with that organization.

3. PREP TIME IN CLASS:  You will have substantial time in class during a number of our class sessions between 4/3-5/3)
to meet with your groups but I also suggest that each group try to get together outside of class as well to prepare their group presentations.  I
suggest that in your first meeting on 4/3 each group choose a facilitator to make sure everyone participates as equally as possible in the group.  You should exchange phone numbers and email addresses to better communicate with one another as well.  Remember, the best group presentations are those where people work in an organized manner as a team and draw from their creativity to make it interactive and educational for all of us.

a. Each group must choose a broad common theme based on all of the various community group experiences brought by the members
of the group.  A suggestion about process for decision-making in your groups: if all members of the group cannot come to
consensus, then try to call for a vote where the majority's decision will carry.  Do your best to get everyone's input before
making decisions.

b. Basic instructions:  prepare a group presentation for the rest of the class that analyzes the broad theme that you have chosen.
Main focus - how community groups try to serve, advocate for and/or organize the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Try to include how race, class and gender all affect the community in relation to your broad theme.  Try to pay attention to
organizing strategies - ethnic specific vs. pan-ethnic or even across race, class and gender lines].  Lastly, present your group's
suggestions for how Asian American community groups and others could better address the short term and root causes (look
to history) of the issue, improve conditions, and perhaps "empower" the community.  Be constructively critical or the organizations
you have worked with!

c. TIPS:  Do your best to plan for an educational and interactive type of presentation rather than a simple "lecture" format.  It
would make it more meaningful and fun for the rest of the class.  I encourage groups to use video, audio and/or other visual
materials to enhance your presentations.  Lastly, try to be "constructively critical."  Be sensitive to the extremely complex nature
of the issues we will be dealing with.  Try to analyze them in a systematic manner.  Keep questioning yourselves and the
conclusions we come up with in class.  It's all a process with no "right" or "wrong" answers.

d. Presentation time = # persons in group times 5 min. per person maximum.  So, a group of 6 people would have to prepare a
30 minute-max presentation.  Please budget into your presentations enough time for questions/answers and dialogue with the rest of the class.  I suggest at least 5 minutes of time for questions and answers, etc. for each panel.

You should have completed 8-10 hours of volunteer work with the organization [this must be done at the group’s office or at an event coordinated by the group you have chosen].  You cannot satisfy this requirement by searching the internet or simply doing library research.  You have to get into the community to satisfy this requirement.  I won’t be checking or verifying that folks have done this, but it is pretty apparent in the papers and panel presentations when students have not satisfied this requirement.
Unlike your group presentations which are a group project, your community project papers must be written individually.
Papers are all due in the beginning of class on Friday May 17.
They must be typed, double spaced and at least 1500 words.  Cite your sources where possible and include a short bibliography at the end of your papers.

Instructions: use the 4 part framework discussed in class to assess the work of the organization you have chosen.

Your paper must include the following:
 

•       a short description of the organization, including a little on its history, structure and programs;
•       discussion on the ‘identity’ of the organization;
•       discussion on its ‘agenda’;
•       discussion on its ‘analysis’ [this is a crucial part of your paper];
•       discussion of the types of ‘strategies’ the group uses to meet its goals and objectives;
•       some brief  reflections on your experiences working with your organization; and
•       short bibliography [list of sources used for the research].

Again, I suggest you email or phone me if you have any questions or if I can be of any help in these projects.  Good luck!