INTR 120: Introduction to
Women's Studies and Feminist Theory
Spring, 2005
MWF (CD)
SERVICE LEARNING
Description of the service-learning component:
Described on your syllabus as the “service-learning component,” you will complete a total of 12 hours of service, an average of 2 hours per week, during the Spring Term. The goal of the service-learning component is to provide practical experience and real connections to the theories studied in the course. Though the Service-learning Coordinator will assist you in the selection of your service-learning placement, it is your responsibility to contact the agency, develop a schedule, serve on a consistent basis, and acquire the appropriate signatures on hour logs. The service-learning component is as important to your success in the course as other requirements. You, not the agency nor the Service-learning Coordinator, will determine the outcome of the experience. Of course, if a placement or its appointed site supervisor is not fulfilling its obligation, the Service-learning Coordinator will intervene. You should contact the Service-learning Coordinator should this occur.
Please consider the placements listed below and email your first three preferences to Avery Gholston, gholstona@wlu.edu, by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 3. Be sure to rank placements that work with your schedule. Available dates and times for the placement are listed for specific placements (below). Also consider transportation and travel time in your ranking of placements. The Shepherd van is available for those without transportation. You can coordinate Shepherd van use with the Service-learning Coordinator.
Avery will notify you of your assigned placement via email no later than Monday, April 11. You should then initiate contact and develop a weekly schedule at your service site. You will want to begin your service promptly the week of April 18th. Therefore, contact prior to Spring Term is required. You are required to take the following documents to your designated site supervisor on the first day of your service: (1) Note to Site Supervisor and (2) Supervisor Recommendations/Guidelines. Delivery of these documents alerts the site supervisor to the nature and expectation of your service, which provides for you a better service experience. Extra copies of the documents and hour logs are available online at http://shepherd.wlu.edu/academics/slc_materials.htm
Service-learning Placements:
Project Horizon Domestic Violence Shelter (2 students and those already in service)
Program Description: Project Horizon is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to reducing family violence (including child abuse), dating violence, and sexual violence through educational programs and crisis intervention services. These services are provided free of charge. An intensive but worthwhile placement. Volunteer for hotline, court advocate, education, and shelter opportunities. Project Horizon agrees to provide an introductory training of 8 hours to enable you to serve in the shelter with supervision. Otherwise, full service to Project Horizon requires 32 hours of training which is conducted in the Fall and Winter and as a one on one consultation with the Volunteer Coordinator, Elyse Barnard.
Contact: Elyse Barnard at 463-7861 or ebarnard@rockbridge.net
National Organization for Women, Lexington Chapter (N.O.W.; 1 student)*
Program Description: The National Organization for Women was founded in 1966 and is the largest women's rights organization in the country with more that half a million members. The purpose of the group is to promote women's full equality. The local chapter was founded in 1980 and averages 20 members. The five main local foci are: (1) Equal Rights in all aspects of society, including the political, economic, educational, and social; (2) The Elimination of Racism; (3) Preservation of Reproductive Rights; (4) Elimination of Violence Against Women; and (5) Elimination of Discrimination Against Gay and Lesbian People. Some of the area chapter’s accomplishments include founding Project Horizon, RACASA (the rape hot line founded in 1990 that later merged with PH in 1996), and Child Net (after school daycare). A student intern may anticipate the following potential projects or may develop something consistent with his/her interests and of benefit to the group. Potential projects include assembling a chapter history, preparing the newsletter, planning meetings, preparing for a meeting on a particular topic, helping with strategies for increasing membership, etc.
Contact: Pam Simpson, Art History Faculty, at simpsonp@wlu.edu or 458-8857
Washington and Lee Gender Relations Committee (2 students)
Program Description: The Gender Relations Commmittee is a committee started at Washington and Lee in the winter of 2005 by a group of students eager to improve gender relations on campus. The committee's goal is to coordinate the educational and preventative efforts of various campus groups currently dealing with sexual misconduct, as well as to encourage faculty, staff, and students to engage in active dialogues about gender relations. The group also hopes to educate students about policies and procedures for reporting sexual assault and to improve interactions between men and women by providing alcohol-free opportunities for men and women to interact. The committee’s four “action teams” consist of (1) activities and gender interactions, (2) male and female outreach, (3) curriculum infusion and education, and (4) judicial review. For the spring term, one student is needed in the activities area and another in the outreach area.
Contact: Jen Sayre or Jan Kaufman at sayrej@wlu.edu and jkaufman@wlu.edu
Maury River Middle One-on-One Mentoring (4 students)*
Program Description: Meet one-on-one with a middle school student identified by school guidance as potentially promiscuous at an early age and with low self-concept. Volunteers will meet with students at Maury River Middle School after-school (2:45). At first, mentoring should be conducted at the middle school, but later, the possibility exists to take the student off-site with parental permission.
Contact: Candy Buss at 463-3129 or candy_buss@rcs.rang.k12.va.us and cheinbuss@hotmail.com (be sure to use an informative subject for home email account due to high levels of spam)
Rockbridge County High School (2 students)*
Program Description: Two Washington and Lee female students will design and conduct a series of five to six after-school sessions under the general discussion umbrella, “From high school grad to young adult: Female issues after high school.” High school women opting to attend the sessions are seniors anticipating the life changes and choices following graduation. Session topics may be generated by high school student interests, perhaps indicated through a preliminary questionnaire administered to girls planning to attend the sessions. Session topics may also be generated by the college volunteers if limited high school feedback is provided. Prospective topics include, but are not limited to: (1) Body Image – Puberty isn’t the only time of change; (2) Alcohol and Drug Use – Making good decisions; (3) Sexual Education; (4) Managing money; (5) Balancing family, friends, and obligations; (6) Simple and Healthy Cooking (recipe exchange); (7) Health Issues and Diseases specifically related to Women. The high school students may have completely different questions/issues in mind. The group will meet once a week after-school for 1 to 1.5 hour(s). Time devoted to planning also counts toward service-learning requirement.
Contact: Carol Phemister at 463-6150 or carol_phemister@rcs.rang.k12.va.us
Kendal Tea time Book Group (1 to 2 students)*
Program Description: Kendal is an assisted living development for the elderly. The student volunteer will facilitate a six week book club and tea time. The book will be about elderly women’s issues or a feminist theory text. Kendal residents should select the text prior to the beginning of the term, allowing the residents and students time to order the book. The tea time is an established weekly gathering at Kendal, but the student may wish to coordinate tea at Lexington Coffee or in the Women’s Resource Room once during the term. Tea time is regularly scheduled from 2:30 to 3:30 on Friday. The student may extend the time to allow for discussion and can count the time reading and preparing discussion questions as his/her service.
Contact: Laura Hotinger at 464-2627 or lhotinger@kalex.kendal.org
CARE/Families and Work Research Project (1-2 students)
Program Description: The Families and Work Sociology class will conduct a CARE (Community Academic Research Effort) study on the affordability and availability of childcare in Rockbridge County. Assistance will be needed to administer the survey. An additional objective of the study is to provide a comprehensive listing of childcare services in Rockbridge County publishable for the internet. A student volunteer with interest in or willingness to learn about website design is especially desirable. The student volunteer would design the site, preparing it for data entry.
Contact: Professor Leslie Cintron at cintronl@wlu.edu or 458-8791
Even Start (1 student)
Program Description: Even Start is a family literacy program that offers four components to area families: (1) Free preschool or free after-school tutoring ages 3 to 7; (2) free adult education (GED preparation and job skills training); (3) parent time devoted to discussing parent needs and issues; and (4) PACT (Parent and Child time working together on reading and early childhood development). Service may be performed 10 to 11:15 Mondays and Tuesdays (parenting classes) and 1 to 2 Monday through Wednesday (PACT).
Contact: Linda White at linda_white@rcs.rang.k12.va.us or 784-0496
21st Century Learning Grant Evening Parenting Program (1 student)
Program Description: The 21st Century Learning Grant at Natural Bridge Elementary grew out of a need for school SOL accreditation. With students performing below grade level on Standards of Learning tests, Natural Bridge recognized the need for structured after-school activities. The 21st Century Grant also provides parental support in resume preparation, job skills, interviewing techniques and practices, technology skills, parenting skills, GED classes, and family literacy experiences. Specifically for Intro. 120, the student volunteer will conduct three sessions on women and parenting issues. Topics may vary to include: (1) nutrition and exercise; (2) discussing body image with children; (3) leading a community book read about growing up as a girl in a rural area; (4) cooking classes emphasizing healthy cooking or cooking around women’s topics; (5) self-defense; (6) actual exercise and/or yoga classes. The first three weeks will be devoted to structuring the classes and generating interest in their attendance. If attendance is not promising, the student may switch to the 21st Century GED Program listed below. At the very least, the student will have provided the 21st Century Program with the service of developing three excellent sessions for mothers for future use.
Contact: Lea Braford at 291-4701 (h) or 291-2292 (w)lea_bradford@rcs.rang.k12.va.us
21st Century GED Program (1 student)
Program Description: The 21st Century Learning Grant at Natural Bridge Elementary grew out of a need for school SOL accreditation. With students performing below grade level on Standards of Learning tests, Natural Bridge recognized the need for structured after-school activities. The 21st Century Grant also provides parental support in resume preparation, job skills, interviewing techniques and practices, technology skills, parenting skills, GED classes, and family literacy experiences. Assist with the adult GED program from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Contact: Lea Braford at 291-4701 (h) or 291-2292 (w)lea_bradford@rcs.rang.k12.va.us
Rockbridge Meadows Home for Mentally Retarded Women (1student)*
Program Description: Home for mentally retarded women. It is the mission of RACS group homes to enhance the quality of life to adults with mental retardation by providing comprehensive support services. RACS focuses on developing programming that is unique to the needs and wishes of the resident, ensuring health and safety needs are met for each resident, and creating a community presence. Service can be performed 7:30 to 10 a.m. Friday mornings or anytime on Saturdays. Residents love manicures and one on one specialty treatment. Some residents are working on developing specific skills that they use to fulfill a role in their “community” of home residents, such as the Emergency Coordinator learning to call 911. Student volunteers may wish to help develop these skills. Most residents are confronting menopause and struggle with self-image.
Contact: Wendy Mace at 464-4800 or racsb1rm@ntelos.net
Directions: Take Rte. 11 North (toward Walmart). Take a left on Boundary Line Lane right before Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House. The Meadows Home is at 133 Boundary Line Lane and is the only red brick house on the left.
Rockbridge Area Community Services – ARC Acres Home for the Intellectually Delayed (1 student)*
Program Description: Arc Acres Group Home is located at 68 Deer Haven Rd. in Buena Vista. It is home to 5 Intellectually Delayed adults, one of which is a female in her 40s. This individual lived independently for a number of years before moving to a group home. She is cognitively high functioning, but is debilitated by depressive episodes. She is in need of developing natural supports in her community in order to minimize her depressive tendencies, increase her self-esteem and create a circle of support in which she can be sustained. The student volunteer will: (1) meet with the individual several times in order to gain an understanding of her likes, dislikes, strengths, and interest; (2) work with the client to identify resources in the community which would meet the interest of the client, as well as, develop natural supports (i.e. connect her with people). For example, joining clubs, church groups, or participating in volunteer work that encourages human contact and interactions; and (3) help facilitate participation by attending initial encounters with the client in order to “break the ice” and serve as a role model. This would be done with full explanation that the students role is to help connect the client to others in the community, not to fulfill the more permanent and invested role of a natural support. In other words, the student should not try to fulfill the role of “friend”, but facilitate the individual in developing friendships that may be sustained through time. A background check is required to perform this service. The cost is covered and the process can be completed at the local police department. The background check must be completed by April 18th.
Contact: Kristy McCoy, Home Manager, at 261-7600 (w) or 291-5132 (h) or racsbaa@ntelos.net to schedule a first time orientation and brainstorming session with client (otherwise the service will be performed one on one without direct supervision)
Yellow Brick Road (1 student)
Program Description: Yellow Brick Road Child Development Center serves children from birth to age 5 in a daycare setting. Yellow Brick Road serves both disadvantaged and secure families. Volunteers assist in classroom and during outside play.
Contact: Pam Toney at 463-4656 or ybr@rockbridge.net
Montessori (1 student)
Program Description: Recognizing that all children are born with a yearning for self-development and learning, Montessori programs aim to facilitate the development of the "whole child." Three to four year-old children are encouraged to explore and experience a stimulating and supportive classroom environment, develop self-esteem, and work toward realizing their full potential in all areas of life. Volunteer as a classroom aide or during after-school care any day of the week.
Contact: Nancy Smith, Director at 463-6461 or montessori@rockbridge.net
Child Net (1 student)
Program Description: An after-school extended day-care setting. Volunteers assist with activities, homework, and mentor children. May provide interesting insights into the concept of latchkey childhood and working mothers.
Contact: Reese McCormick at 463-3377 or childnet@rockbridge.net
Rockbridge Area Free Clinic (1 student)
Program Description: The Rockbridge Area Free Clinic provides medical and prescription services free of charge to those in need. Volunteers are needed for interviewing eligible clients, filling prescriptions, and coordinating an indigent drug program.
Contact: Suzanne Sheridan at 464-8700 or suzanne.freeclinic@adelphia.net
* Asterisk denotes a placement developed specifically for this course. Placement of students with these agencies is a priority.
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