Take This Class, Change the World

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:16:00 -0400
opportunities, social-entrepreneurship-course

I believe many things are best learned through experience, including how to change the world. You can’t fully explore and develop your ability to make a difference without actually giving it a try. I also believe that taking meaningful action with others to shape your community is one of the most important and fulfilling things you can do. But I’m not a fan of futile gestures--of fighting the “good fight” in some blundering way that doesn’t result in a win. I think if you’re going to invest time in trying to change the world, you should do it in a manner well calculated to produce the change you seek. That means being an entrepreneur: thinking clearly and analytically about problems, developing innovative solutions, making solid strategic plans, building helpful relationships, assembling and managing resources, inspiring supporters and sustaining their motivation.

If you agree with me, or are interested in discussing these points, I hope you’ll consider taking the class I’ll be teaching with Delana Gregg in fall 2010: Civic Imagination and Social Entrepreneurship (cross-listed as Political Science 209, American Studies 280, and Sociology 298). The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 to 12:45.

Students in the class will read, think and talk about ideas and examples relating to the process of social change. They’ll also work in groups to choose a social problem or opportunity and launch a practical project to create change on campus or, through the campus, in the wider community. The plan for the project will be the major piece of academic work produced for the class. Implementation will be up to you: If you’re inspired, hopefully you’ll decide to follow through even after you complete the course in December.

Projects developed by students in this class in fall 2008 and fall 2009 have included creating a basketball league for homeless men in Baltimore (implemented summer 2009), blanketing the UMBC campus with black and gold banners to build school spirit (to be completed in the next few months), setting up new applied research opportunities for UMBC undergraduates (one of this year’s Prove It! finalists), launching a human rights awareness campaign focusing initially on hunger and access to clean water (you’ll see this unfold starting next month), developing new health and wellness resources for UMBC students, setting up a community action program for middle-school students, and establishing a healthy food co-op on campus.

Just like in previous semesters, we plan to engage some exciting guest instructors to help students build their skills and hone their ideas. Last fall’s lineup included Provost Elliot Hirshman, Vice President for Student Affairs Nancy Young, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Greg Simmons, SGA President Yasmin Karimian, Shriver Center Director Michele Wolff, and faculty members Kriste Lindenmeyer, Ed Orser and Lee Boot.

If you have questions about the class, feel free to email me at dhoffman@umbc.edu. Hope to see you next fall!