This session will explain how YOU as an undergraduate college student can teach a Social Action course, how students can lead the way for social change on their college campuses and empower each other to make a difference.

1. Social Action 101
Social Justice at the Centre, Bonner Congress 2019
Strategy Session Block A

2. 2
Sophia Lombardo
Coordinator of Community
Service & the Bonner Program
at Centre College

3. Outline
× What is Social Action
× Social Action and the Bonner Program
× Student Social Action at Earlham
× Bringing Social Action to your campus
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4. 4

5. 1.
Social Action

6. Service
Giving back to our
communities
Service + Justice
= Social Action
Justice
Fighting for change to
improve the lives of
people in our
community 6
Action
Changing policies or
laws for equality

7. What is Social Action?
× Scott Myers-Lipton, professor of sociology from San Jose State University
Change! A Student Guide to Social Action
× “Community engagement course model through which students learn social
action theory and practice while also launching (or joining) a social action
campaign during the academic semester in which the course is taught.”
× Focus on policy change and justice-oriented social change in a community
or on a campus
× Three ways to do social action
× As part of existing services
× Through new projects
× Creating the right conditions
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/upload
s/attachment_data/file/591797/A_description_of_social_action.pdf 7

8. 8

9. Why Social Action?
× It can empower and energize populations that have traditionally been
powerless, or haven’t understood their potential for exercising power.
× It can unify communities.
× It can demonstrate to the larger community that the organized group
is a force to be reckoned with.
× It may be the only thing that will move a stubborn opponent.
× It may be seen as morally necessary.
× It can motivate people to take other kinds of positive action.
× It can be the beginning of a process that ends in a more unified larger
community.
× It can lead to long-term positive social change.
× https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/promotion-
strategies/systems-advocacy-and-community-organizing/main 9

10. When should you engage in Social Action?
× When negotiation and reason don’t produce satisfactory
results.
× When time is short.
× When the time is right.
× When you have the resources to make action possible.
× When you want to make a dramatic statement that will focus
public attention.
× When you want to energize and empower the community, and
develop community leadership.
× When you want to catch the attention of the public – and the
media – and galvanize public opinion in your favor about an
issue or about your organization or community
× https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/promotion-
strategies/systems-advocacy-and-community-organizing/main 10

11. Who should engage in
Social Action?
× Social action is most effective when those who engage in it are
those whose interests are at stake.
× Access to power or willingness to fight for power.
× The answer to who should be involved in social action, then, is
both organizations and institutions that include and represent the
community in question, and individuals who can form groups
where there are none.
× https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/promotion-
strategies/systems-advocacy-and-community-organizing/main
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12. 12
How do you do Social Action?
× Prepare
× Get to know the community
× Identify issues
× Identify contacts
× Recruit
× Plan
× Develop a strategy
× Decide what kinds of actions
work best
× Prepare contingency plans
× Do social action
× Choose time, place, target,
and nature of action
× Provide training and support
× Detail, detail, detail
× Organize
× Carry out
× Evaluate
× Plan next move

13. × In 2012, the CampusAlliance for Economic Justice (CAFÉ J) developed and helped lead the
San Jose Measure D campaign, which won 60% to 40% in the November election and raised the
minimum wage from $8 to $10 an hour.
× In 2015, the Society for Teaching Responsible Options in Nutrition and Growth (STRONG)
worked with food vendors to win three changes to city regulations making it easier and more
accessible for Fresh Carts to sell fresh fruit and vegetables.
× In 2017, Students AgainstSexual Harassment (SASH) won their demand to force the
resignation of a professor who had sexually harassed a student, but after a two-week
suspension and diversity training, had been allowed to return to his faculty position.
× In 2015, Students for DMH won their demand for air conditioning in Dudley Moorehead Hall.
× In 2015, College Awareness Network won their demand for the institutionalization of a college
tour program for third graders that they had developed.
× Start a college shuttle to nearby train stations.
× Add more water bottle refill stations on campus.
× Hire a campus sustainability coordinator.
× Bee sanctuaries on campus.
× More and more appealing vegetable and fruit dishes in the dining hall to encourage less meat
eating.
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14. videos
× https://vimeo.com/ondemand/walkthewalk
× https://abc7news.com/society/sjsu-denies-campus-groups-demands-
to-fight-student-homelessness/5170806/
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15. 2. Social Action
and Bonner
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16. What has your
Bonner Program
done to impact
your campus or
community on a
larger scale?
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17. Social Action and Bonner
× Social action aims to change policies and is a core strategy for the
“justice oriented citizen” described in “What Kind of Citizen? The
Politics of Educating for Democracy” by Joel Westheimer and Joseph
Kahne (American Educational Research Journal; Summer 2004).
× The other two models of good citizen — personally responsible and
participatory — are mirrored in the direct service and service
leadership approaches that have been a part of the Bonner Program
from its beginning.
× In other words, learning how to engage in social action rounds out
the skills, knowledge, and collective action goals of the Bonner
Program model for student development and community
engagement.
17http://bonner.pbworks.com/w/page/113869138/Social%20Action%20-%20Overview

18. 18

19. 19

20. Social Action and Bonner Cont.
× Social action campaigns often address underlying policies that are
the cause of social injustice.
× While students often develop their own campaigns, they also join
those led by community-based advocacy organizations seeking
their energy, talent, and access to resources. (aka service sites)
× Influence greater campus civic engagement and social justice.
× Lessons from CHANGE are also great Bonner trainings.
20http://www.bonner.org/social-action/

21. Coming soon…
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22. 3. INTD: 111,
Student Social
Action at
Earlham College
Student Lead Course, Spring 2019
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23. × Moodle course page, syllabi, and paperwork from advisor
× 11 students (4 Bonners) that met once a week for an hour
× Two reflections, weekly readings, final presentation at Epic Expo
× Used Bonner Wiki trainings and CHANGE!
× Three projects
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24. 4. Social Action
on your campus
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25. Social Action courses
× Find a professor who has passion
× Faculty can be from any department with all kinds of experiences
× Must have buy-in from staff, faculty, students, and community
× Not every campaign is successful and you can’t grade a group by
how successful or not the campaign is
× Use guest speakers and experts on the issues
× Research, research, research
× Mix of upper and lower classmen in the class
× Teaching pedagogy and classroom dynamics
× Spend time learning in class and working in class
× Students take the lead 25

26. “1. Issue Development
What changes do you think need to be
made on your campus or in the
community?
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3. Building Power
Who has the power to make these
changes? Create a power map.

27. “
6. Strategy and Tactics
What is the course of action?
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7. Campaign Plan
What are your steps to complete the
campaign?

28. “9. Group Dynamics
Who can help you with your plan?
What are the skill sets needed?
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10. Evaluation
What is the finished outcome?
How do you know if you succeeded?

29. What ideas do
you have for
bringing Social
Action to your
campus?
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30. Any questions?
Let’s keep in contact!
× Sophia.Lombardo@centre.edu
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