1. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION  RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSALS: 
Due on  Fri 11/15 via email to [ericmar@sfsu.edu - do not email me at ericmar@att.net for this assignment]
- 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 during the week of 11/4 and 11/11. 
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.

a. Basic instructions:  prepare a short presentation for the class on your work with +/or research on a community-based or student organization or a particular community campaign.
Main focus - how community groups try to serve, advocate for and/or organize the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Try to include how race/ethnicity, class and gender inequalities in the Asian American community impact how your organization carries out its work.
Try to pay attention to: organizing, advocacy and/or direct service strategies used by the organization. 
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. Try to be constructively critical of the organizations
you have worked with!

b. 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 you to use drawings/graphics, 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.

c. Presentation time 5 min. per person maximum, including setup time.   Try to leave a little time for questions from your colleagues.

Working with the organization - I highly recommend that you spend at least 8-10 hours working with the organization you are researching [at the group’s office or at an event coordinated by the group you have chosen].  There is really no substitute for hands-on practical experience with organizations.  To really understand your organizations you have to do your best to work with the group, even if it is mimimal work  
Research - refer to the Don Mar/Chalsa Loo article for the type of research you are expected to conduct.  Other electronic reserve readings may also be useful - ie: 4-part framework and George Kagiwada's views of Community Developement; and CTWO, CPA and CCC readings on organizing and advocacy.  You are expected to go to the SFSU library, community libraries, etc. to do your research. Do not simply rely on a few internet sources and a couple of newsletters.  Try to look deeply into the history of your organizations and analyze the issues your groups are working on.  Be critical of the organizations you are working with and analytical in how you assess whether the groups are dealing with the problems and roots causes.

Papers are all due in the beginning of class on Friday  Dec.  20 - before 12 noon in my office Psy 108.
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 and other concepts used in class to assess the work of the organization you have chosen.

Your paper must include the following:

• a description of the organization, including info on its history, structure and programs;  
• a discussion on how the organization funds its work and where the money comes from;
• a description of how the organization is governed - who are the 'stakeholders' and how are they tied into decision-making;

• a section on the ‘identity’ of the organization;
• a section on its ‘agenda’;
• a thorough discussion on its ‘analysis’ [this is a crucial part of your paper - do not gloss over this question - i want a thorough explanation in this section];
• a section on the types of ‘strategies’ the group uses to meet its goals and objectives [remember - most groups use a combination of strategies, use terms and concenpts we discussed in class]
• a section on your reflections on your experiences working with your organization - here - tie in class concepts from the text and our dialogue from class discussions]; and
• a formal bibliography [list of at least 5 sources used for your research - at least 2 must be from books or academic journals].

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!