Degree Name
MA in Intercultural Service, Leadership, and Management
First Advisor
Ryland White
Abstract
“Social justice is both a process and a goal. The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of all groups in a community that is [co-created] to meet the members’ needs. Social justice includes a vision of a community that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure” (Adams, Bell, & Griffin, 2007, p. 1). In the process, one is used to going straight to issues of social justice before connecting by building trusts and relationships. This Course-Linked Capstone in Training focuses on SIT Graduate Institute coursework from Training Design in Experiential Learning and Training of Trainers: Ethics & Intercultural Design, presenting challenges in designing and facilitating social justice education workshops for young adults impacted by the criminal justice system and trauma, as well as the adults who want to support them. Workshops occurred bi-monthly over a 20-month period at UTEC in Lowell, Massachusetts. The non-profit organization’s population and staff are diverse in race but not in structural power. This impact in implementing social justice education workshops within the organization is examined. Methods include data of target participants, observational research, and reflective analysis of theory-to-practice experiences through storytelling to portray use of needs assessments, power dynamics, and triggers and bias from identities as a social justice educator. A restorative process model connected by circle processes and experiential learning towards the goal of social justice education is presented. Conclusions include ethical implications, lessons learned, and competency building as a reflective training and social justice practitioner.
Keywords: training, facilitation, design, experiential learning, social justice, restorative, education, ethics, power, bias, identity, race, trauma, young adults
Disciplines
Adult and Continuing Education | Community-Based Learning | Community-Based Research | Critical and Cultural Studies | Curriculum and Instruction | Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication | Inequality and Stratification | Interpersonal and Small Group Communication | Organizational Communication | Politics and Social Change | Race and Ethnicity | Service Learning | Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | Social Work
Recommended Citation
Pelonia, Nikki F., "Connecting Beyond The Circle: A Restorative Approach in Co-Creating a Safe Space for Social Justice Education at UTEC" (2017). Capstone Collection. 2966.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/2966
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Inequality and Stratification Commons, Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Politics and Social Change Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Service Learning Commons, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons, Social Work Commons