Are You Proud Crow?

President Michael Crow of ASU has coined the term “New American University” to be an “egalitarian institution committed to academic excellence, access, and maximum societal impact (Crow, 2010, p.36). Many goals for institutions of higher education are to prepare students to become active citizens in their society. The effort of ASU to shift academic skills into involvement and impact in communities locally and globally is enhanced through service learning academic programs that are instated at ASU. Service learning is a teaching tool that links academics and real life problem solving. It can be used in any discipline to allow students to recognize the connection between their studies and community issues that affect them or others.

Each semester approximately 300 ASU students engage in a service learning course where they are responsible for committing to 100 hours of service, weekly reflections and readings, and weekly course discussions discussing social justice and public policy. As a teaching assistant for the USL classes and a manager of tutoring programs where USL students can choose to do their service, I personally believe (without bias of course) that ASU has one of the best service learning programs. After doing much research and comparison of service learning programs in American universities, it is clear that ASU holds higher expectations for their service learners and provides the correct techniques for using the service as a teaching method.

Many service learning programs do not focus intently on an academic curriculum for their service learners. They figure the learning will develop through life experience and minimal reflection. ASU’s service learning exclusively classifies service learning as a teaching tool to and all USL classes must include the crucial act of critical reflection, analysis of their service and how it relates to their studies, future careers, and social justice issues. In addition to their weekly obligations to their chosen service placement and course assignments, students are required to actively participate in a classroom seminar once a week. Due to the highly controversial nature of many of the social justice topics, the weekly classroom seminars are essential for a student’s growth and reflection. This hour and half offers a time for students to question the material, hear opposing arguments from different perspectives, and deliberate on how society should function.

As an undergrad I took a University Service Learning (USL) course that either put me on the path or reinforced my path to public service. I addressed my deep seated biases and reflected upon my privilege. Because of this, I think I am a more conscientious citizen and open minded adult which I imagine was what President Crow was looking for.   

Walmart... Good or Bad?

As a professional development and networking opportunity, I attended a workshop titled Corporate Citizenship presented by Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship. Corporate Social Responsibility has always been a career option for me. I believe that I can do a lot of good building mutually beneficial partnerships between the private sector and social sector. 

But, I must honestly say that today I did not necessarily fit in with this crowd. Many of the topics discussed and presented countered what I have learned in my Master’s program. Now, with any form of education there may be an element of indoctrination as each educator attempts to encourage a certain curriculum and agenda, but I think I have developed an ideology that doesn’t quite fit with the corporate world. 

For example, we when requested to write a good company and a bad company on a post it to share with others, I immediately thought of Walmart as a bad company.  Their monopoly over any small businesses, their foreign product sourcing, the discrimination suits by their employees, and the ill-responsibly made products that hamper our environment. But, from a corporate stand point, they are a successful, money making company who gives charitable donations and sustains social programs while employing thousands. Well this is true. And like most arguments, neither side is incorrect. 

Secondly, a recurring theme of the work shop revolved around people’s lack of trust in Corporate America and what a disgrace it is. Well, healthy skepticism is good right! You would never blindly trust your government. In fact it is a required duty of citizenship to question to policies and practices, why shouldn’t we do the same for Corporations? I know why we shouldn’t do the same… it wastes resources and funds, and that wouldn’t be in best practice now would it. But if companies provided more transparency and welcomed critics, companies could grow bigger clientele because good practice for humankind is a good PR for Corporate America.  Buy-cotting versus boycotting is trending right now. 

I recognize that my analysis is limited and potentially uninformed at points. I am not a market researcher and I don’t know how much money a buy-cotting product would bring in compared to an efficiently, cheap product. And even though people want to be green and protect human rights, I also recognize that people are more likely to buy out of convenience and price than for social reasons.

I have just ranted and raided because I think it is important to question information that is handed to you. But with that being said, I think corporations do have a wonderful impact on society. Their highest contribution to us is creating employment and higher standards of living. Once they accomplish those necessaries and pay their investors, many corporations feel a moral (or capitol) obligation to help their community. And does motive matter? If they do good for good, or do good for branding, aren’t they still doing good? I am readjusting a portion of my earlier stated biases; just because organizations make money, does not make them the world’s evil. Give me a chance to hang out with the corporate world, I may succeed in doing the most good with the resources a corporation can provide, or I may be disgusted by those who are only driven my money.

What I do

For the past 4 years, I have been working with University Service Learning, building my resume, learning professionalism, and developing operational and managerial skills, but very few people understand what my full job entails. Like all jobs I imagine, a job is never as simple as the title would suggest. For clarification for myself and those who know me, this is what I do.

I oversee and organize 3 after-school mentoring and tutoring programs for children living in poverty and attending title I schools. The tutors and mentors that provide the one-on-one service to these k-8th graders are all ASU students receiving a Federal Work Study grant that requires them to work in order to receive portions of financial aid, or these students are taking a service learning course.

America Reads

America Reads is the grant name created by the Clinton Administration that allows college students to receive financial aid through working for educational programs for children in low income areas. As part of America Reads we provide ASU students from all different educational backgrounds to become educators and role models. Each day the mentor works one-on-one with 3 children creating fun hands on activities. It is my job to ensure that these mentors are properly trained to create hands on activities, develop daily lesson plans, and protect the children from harm. It is also my responsibility to manage the Supervising team that oversees the daily operations of America Reads.

Community Liaison

Each day tutoring and mentoring is carried out at different community centers. I specifically work with the Salvation Army and their community center. I am apart of their advisory board and work with other organizations that use the Salvation Army as a place for holding programs for populations in need. I am also in responsibility of working with 4 different schools in recruiting children to the program, working with teachers in being a resource to reinforce their curriculum, and working with the administration in better serve their schools.

University Service Learning

For the ASU students who do not receive Federal Work Study, they can join the program by taking a Service Learning course. This is my favorite part of the organization. By definition service learning must encompass 2 aspects: 1) must be a course based educational activity and 2) must participate in a service activity that meets an identified community need. Service Learners at ASU must complete approximately 100 hours of service in a semester and must attend a weekly lecture that involves discussion of justice issues (immigration, teaching English Language Learners, poverty, health care, etc.). As part of my job, I am required to fill in for instructors when they can not attend class, and grade reflections and papers.

I offered little to know reflection in this blog post because as I wrote down my work expectations, I became overwhelmed in how to portray my job to outsiders. I am passionate and excited about certain elements of my job, that my audience will just have to wait for further disclosure of what it is I do.

Hello family, friends, classmates, and blog,

As part of my MPA (Masters in Public Administration) program, I am required to blog throughout my last semester. I plan to use this blog as a time of reflection and analysis of my next step, my next move, my next adventure.

Most importantly, I want to write through some crucial thoughts. What do I truly want to do with my life? What careers should I jump into? Where can I exert my best talents? How important is money to me? How important is making a societal impact? Will I ever be content?

Within myself I am cursed and charmed because I am never content. I reach a point, feel proud and satisfied with my accomplishments, and immediately need a new endeavor. I accomplish a lot with this continual obsession with wanting more, but I drive myself mad by never accepting the accomplishment as complete.

To be clear, content does not mean that I am not happy! I have a wonderful, supportive family, a loving and appreciative significant other, the greatest friends, and have had thousands of privileged opportunities that drive me. Because of my privileged life thus far, I feel an obligation to others and humility to human kind. But, I just don't know where to exert these efforts yet. I am conflicted between private and public tensions of wanting a good paying job and a secure life style while trying to fulfill my human obligation to others.

No matter where I end up in life, I know I will make a difference. The issue is, I want to make a difference to those who need a difference.