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There are many problems that impact the human condition. Inequality, poverty, oppression, and marginalization may seem insurmountable, and while there is still much work to do, history tells us that we have made great strides. In this learning community, we reflect on past, present, and future changemakers. Through the stories of influential figures who have or are working to resolve social problems, we will learn about the development of the human services field and changes that have taken place over time in an attempt to respond to human need. You will also develop your own changemaker autobiography, identifying a social problem you want to learn more about and explore organizations already involved in addressing the issue.

There are many problems that impact the human condition. Inequality, poverty, oppression, and marginalization may seem insurmountable, and while there is still much work to do, history tells us that we have made great strides. In this learning community, we reflect on past, present, and future changemakers. Through the stories of influential figures who have or are working to resolve social problems, we will learn about the development of the human services field and changes that have taken place over time in an attempt to respond to human need. You will also develop your own changemaker autobiography, identifying a social problem you want to learn more about and explore organizations already involved in addressing the issue.

African Cultural retentions in the Americas is presented this semester as a reading and writing-intensive course focused on the continuities, transformations, adaptations and re¬inventions of African culture found within the African diaspora in the Americas since the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Some of the research and writing conducted by historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, art historians, and musicologists pertinent to our subject matter will be studied. Lectures, readings, classroom discussions and writings will explore cultural developments in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the United States. In addition to our readings, a number of documentary films will be shown and reviewed. In the Americas, Africans encountered Native Americans and Europeans; therefore, a major focus of this course is to explore and to understand the new cultural contexts which emerged, and Africa’s contributions to those contexts.

African Cultural retentions in the Americas is presented this semester as a reading and writing-intensive course focused on the continuities, transformations, adaptations and re¬inventions of African culture found within the African diaspora in the Americas since the era of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Some of the research and writing conducted by historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, art historians, and musicologists pertinent to our subject matter will be studied. Lectures, readings, classroom discussions and writings will explore cultural developments in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the United States. In addition to our readings, a number of documentary films will be shown and reviewed. In the Americas, Africans encountered Native Americans and Europeans; therefore, a major focus of this course is to explore and to understand the new cultural contexts which emerged, and Africa’s contributions to those contexts.

A Human Services 1101 and English 1101 Learning Community: What events in your life led you to be interested in human services? How do you see yourself as a helper? Just as your unique circumstances and experiences have caused you to be the person you are today, so has service delivery developed over time. In this learning community, we will be exploring the history, role, and characteristics of service. Through writing your stories– narration, description, definition, cause and effect– you will also be exploring who you are in relationship to service and your community.

A Human Services 1101 and English 1101 Learning Community: What events in your life led you to be interested in human services? How do you see yourself as a helper? Just as your unique circumstances and experiences have caused you to be the person you are today, so has service delivery developed over time. In this learning community, we will be exploring the history, role, and characteristics of service. Through writing your stories– narration, description, definition, cause and effect– you will also be exploring who you are in relationship to service and your community.