ANTC 145 Foundations of Community Action: Cooperative Education Preparation

This is a campus-based course that will lead students to effectively engage with organizations and develop the skills necessary to participate fully in the Cooperative Education Program. Focusing on the theme of community action, students are introduced to key concepts of participatory practice that provide a foundation for their life at Antioch College and prepare them for the world of work. In addition to practical skills such as resume writing and interview techniques, students examine the practices of building sustainable relationships across difference, identifying shared purpose, and forging pathways for collective action. The course makes full use of campus assets by positioning students within a connective web of partner organizations that enables them to develop an understanding of the principles of community-based inquiry and place-based experiential learning. We examine local efforts toward social, economic, and environmental justice as well as how to engage in such work in meaningful, respectful and reflexive ways. Case studies afforded by our proximity to various local nonprofit organizations enable class members to consider best practices in organizational effectiveness and to learn about the challenges of community work. The overall goal of the course is to prepare students to become integrative thinkers, ambitious collaborators, and effective change makers through their engagement both on and off-campus.