Introduction
One of the learning objectives of this LC is to learn how to work within a community to develop action plans for change. The purpose of this assignment is for students to observe community members engaging in just those kinds of processes.
You will attend four meetings or events that address community issues. Events may include neighborhood association meetings, awareness-raising events, activism, or other forms of community work for a public good. Two events should be on-campus and two should be off-campus.
The following are examples of the types of meetings/events you might attend. A list of options (with dates, times and locations) will be made available to you on OnMason. If you find an event to attend on your own, contact your instructor for advanced approval.
Examples of Meetings/Events
- City of Fairfax Commission for Women: meets the third Tuesday of every month.
- Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling, Third Wednesday of each month.
- George Mason University, Residence Hall Association, Chesapeake Area Leadership Council, Mondays at 8pm.
- George Mason University Program Board Comedy/Speakers Committee, Wednesdays, 6:30pm.
- Centreville Immigration Forum meets the fourth Tuesday of every month, 7:30 at the Centreville Library.
Process
As you attend, observe the roles of the individuals involved:
- How are they effective or ineffective?
- What is the role of knowledge, information, information seeking, and inquiry in effective action?
- What kinds of knowledge are privileged (statistics, facts, personal accounts, etc.)?
- How does the credibility of the source matter?
- Does the status of the person giving the information matter?
- What seems to have the greatest influence over what issues receive the most attention?
- Over all, how decisions are made?
- Over all, how plans are implemented?
Observations and reflections such as these will be recorded after each meeting in a reflection log (a format is provided below).
Synthesis
A final synthesis paper should integrate your experiences in these four meetings (use your four reflection logs to inform your analysis). Summarize a few themes that you observed, particularly around course topics, such as:
- How do people know? How do they inform the decisions they make? How do people working in the community find out what they need to know to create positive change? What kinds of knowledge or sources of knowledge are privileged?
- What are effective roles for individuals involved in these events? How can a person who wants to make a difference in the community engage most effectively with others?
- What have you learned about the community? What have you learned about how communities work?
Please submit the reflection logs and synthesis paper via the appropriate PebblePad gateway.
Timetable
| Due Date | Assignment | Guidelines and Expectations |
| 10 February, 11 pm | Community Meeting Log #1 | Attend a community meeting or event and submit your observations and reflections using the format below |
| 24 February, 11 pm | Community Meeting Log #2 | |
| 10 March, 11 pm | Community Meeting Log #3 | |
| 24 March, 11 pm | Community Meeting Log #3 | |
| 7 April, 11 pm | 700 – 1000 word paper synthesizing your thoughts on these events | |
Format
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Community Meeting Log #___
Name Date |
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| Name of Community Meeting/Event: Date of Meeting/Event: Location: |
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Notes and Reflections (approximately 500 words) |
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