service, sustainability, social justice …towards a coalition?
TRANSCRIPT
Service, Sustainability, Social Justice
…Towards a Coalition?
Global Premises: 21st century USA
Huge demographic changes
Increases in ethnic diversity
Competition for increasingly limited natural resources
Atonement of culture with nature, and/or the end of nature as we know it
Increasing economic inequality
Dwindling/Stagnant social mobility
Social Justice and Diversity
2012: nonwhite US births become majority
2042: US will be majority persons of color
However, economic and racial segregation is increasing
College may be the first place students encounter diversity
Sustainability and Resilience Criticism: a ‘luxury’ activity for those with privilege?
Epistemic Closure: Global Warming is a hoax!
What’s a green economy?
BUT, 350ppm CO2 in atmosphere = necessary to sustain life
Currently we are at 400ppm and climbing
Consequences: More powerful natural disasters
Drought and stress to food supply (see California)
Ocean acidification
Fresh water scarcity
Hotter climate
Poverty vs. The American Dream
2013: 47 million on food stamps
2010: 30% living on <$44,000 for a family of four Or, 104 million people below 200% of poverty line
Great Wealth, Low Social Mobility VS. France, Germany, Canada, Scandinavia, etc.
1950 – 1980: Social Mobility UP*
1980 – Present: Worker Productivity UP
Wages STAGNANTSocial Mobility DOWN*Student Debt = $1.2 Trillion
Social Justice & Diversity*2012: nonwhite US births become
majority*2042: US populationwill be
majority persons of color*However, economic and racial
segregation is increasing*College may be the first place students encounter diversity
Sustainability & Resilience
*Criticism: a ‘luxury’ activity for those with privilege?
*350ppm CO2 in atmosphere = necessary to
sustain life*Currently we are at 400ppm
and climbing*Apocalyptic
consequences for food, water, climate
Poverty vs. The American Dream
*2013: 47 million on food stamps
*2010: 30% living on <$44,000 for a family of
four. Or, 104 million. *Great Wealth, Low Social
Mobility VS. France, Germany, Canada, Scandinavia, etc
*1950 – 1980: Social Mobility UP
*1980 – Present: Worker Productivity UP
Wages STAGNANTSocial Mobility DOWN
Argument: These problems are interconnected, yet we as a society do not often address them as such.
Question: How does this connect to Geneva & HWS?
Geneva Connections: Strengths
28% diverse population 41% of children under 17
Anchor Institutions: Education
Health Care
Small Manufacturing
Tourism
Agriculture & Local Food
Geneva 2020 Literacy
Graduation Rate
Career-College Readiness
Geneva Connections: Challenges 8% of property is vacant; 50% is rental
Tension with law enforcement
Segregated populations by race/class + migrant farm workers
Unrepresentative government
Lake/Wine Country or Trash Country?
Fracking and future air/water quality
23% population loss since 1950
26% poverty rate vs. 16% nationally
60% of children in schools on free/reduced lunch = <$31,000 for a family of four
What If the Periphery Became the Center?
What would a coalition look like?
Social Justice & Diversity*25% Diverse Population
41% Diverse - age 17 and under*migrant farm worker population
*somewhat segregated local populations
*some tension with law enforcement
Sustainability & Resilience
*Lake/Wine Country or Trash Country?
*Fracking and future air/water quality
*Rich agricultural history and continued economic
importance
Poverty vs. The American Dream*10% vacant housing
*23% population loss since 1950
*24% poverty rate vs. 16% nationally
*60% of schoolchildren on free/reduced lunch =
<$31,000 for a family of four
Local Connections: HWS as Microcosm
April Syndrome: Symptoms 1: Overwhelming sense of dread
2: Panic
3: Exhaustion
4. …Recovery?
April Syndrome: “Chicken In The Gym”
Awards, awards, awards…with food!
Events, events, events…with food!
Time & Resources = Limited, Fractured
Attendance = Meh
Impact = Inconsistent
Result = Exhaustion
How Can We Do Better? Example: politics clubs, green clubs
Example: typical student that walks into your office
How Can We Do Better?
Why are the students interested in environmental activism mostly white and how can we be more inclusive in our environmental programs?
What can community service directors/practitioners learn from diversity directors? sustainability directors?
How can student diversity programs benefit from creating service opportunities in the community?
How can civic engagement efforts build bridges across student subgroups, and move beyond the choir?
Who takes credit?
Is this more work/more time? Or working smarter?
What would be the ideal student learning taking place?
A Nascent Coalition? – “Justice League” Skidmore 2011 – Angela Park
Stanford Social Innovation Review Collective Impact & When Good Is Not Good Enough
Administrative Story Fits and starts – progress and analysis paralysis
The eternal recurrence of the “Why Are We Here?” discussion
Gaining momentum for 2014/15 – focus on food, Earth Week
“Shared Values and Collaborative Action”
Possible Structures Coalition
Town Hall Meeting
Divisional Focus
Other Stakeholders
Student Story – “Think. Talk. Act.” Issue areas & Platform
Food options
Town hall meetings/open forums
Faculty Story? – curriculum review
Administrative Focus: A Sense of Place
Other leverage points? Intervening in the system to affect change
Paradigm Shift or Paradigm Transcendence
Interrogate assumptions: freedom, growth, flourishing
What is our big brain good for?