This summer Central College is offering a Social Justice in the City course, which introduces students to social justice issues. During June and July, participants attend class and serve with local nonprofits in Des Moines, Iowa, that are addressing social issues and working to create positive social change. This course is an opportunity for students to actively engage in learning and applying social justice.

Nine students enrolled in this immersive, experiential learning course taught by Shelley Bradfield, associate professor of communication studies. It covers an array of social justice topics like redlining, white fragility, criminal justice, education, health care and inequalities and justice. Advocacy is a major emphasis of this course.

“Our students serve with nonprofits whose missions might be creating food security or housing security. Some serve with the criminal justice system, services for persons with disabilities or mental health illnesses and children and family programs,” Bradfield says. “The students are serving at these organizations for two months, so they get to experience the challenges at the nonprofits but also work toward solutions for social injustices.”

“This course has been run previously in New York City and Des Moines,” says Tori Fyfe, associate director of civic engagement at Central. “My role was to adapt portions of the previous programs to address today’s social justice issues. I worked to identify nonprofits that were willing and able to work with students in this program. Additionally, we wanted to make the program as financially accessible as possible, so I worked with Iowa and Minnesota Campus Compact to enroll students in summer AmeriCorps VISTA positions. This allows them to receive a living stipend and education award for their service with nonprofit partners.”

The Poppen Fund for Social Justice Programs supports this social justice programming at Central. In addition, the Moore Family Foundation granted funds to cover the costs of excursions, training for volunteers and cultural opportunities in Des Moines that students may not have experienced previously.

“We’re also creating community amongst the students who are living in Des Moines this summer for their service with the nonprofits and course work,” Bradfield says. “We share a few meals to build the community and will attend cultural events.”