PurposeThis new summer program for undergraduates is designed to encourage connections between academic institutions and grassroots activism. The Institute will bring together distinguished scholars and activists with undergraduates to rigorously study the theory and practices of democratic engagement. In this forum, a select group of undergraduate student leaders will learn about the complexities of political action and gain practical knowledge about grassroots organizing. CurriculumStudents will be introduced to a wide range of agendas for political activism and the key challenges for democratic engagement in both the U.S. and international contexts. They will be immersed in activities that encourage reflection about their activist experiences, and learning from one another and from faculty whose research is on issues of activism and democracy. Through lectures and discussions, students will gain a historical understanding of activism and have the opportunity to draw connections between activist movements on micro and macro levels and identify recurring dilemmas of theory and practice. They will examine issues of power, inequality and democratic theory and be encouraged to think creatively about new forms of political engagement and other means to revitalize democracies. The students will gain skills in the practices of democracy by learning the techniques of grassroots organizing and working collaboratively to design strategies for activism they can take back to their communities. Themes & IssuesDuring the two-week Institute, students will consider the obstacles to democratization due to racial, ethnic and gender violence, poverty and the growth of religious fundamentalism and how social movements might be invigorated to respond to these obstacles, enhance participation, and promote social justice. A wide range of issues related to and/or inspiring activism will be explored including global epidemics and catastrophes, increasing incarceration rates and prison conditions, unfair labor practices, and the rights of migrant populations. Selection of StudentsTwenty undergraduates with demonstrated interests in social activism and leadership skills will be invited to participate. In the selection process preference will be given to students between their junior and senior years and efforts will be made to assure that a diverse group of students are chosen. Location & AccommodationsThe Institute will be held on the campus of Amherst College which is considered the premier liberal arts college in the nation. The college's 1,000-acre campus is located in Amherst, a town of 35,000 people in western Massachusetts. Amherst College is enriched by its membership in the Five Colleges, a consortium with nearby Smith, Mount Holyoke and Hampshire Colleges and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Its location in the Pioneer Valley also makes available a wide range of cultural resources and access to many innovative activist and community-based organizations in Amherst, Northampton and the surrounding areas of Holyoke and Springfield. Students will be housed together in one of Amherst's recently renovated dormitories. The Institute will be free of charge and student participants will be provided with the necessary course materials and reimbursed for their travel expenses to Amherst. Program Faculty The Institute is a pilot project of The Ford Foundation and will be facilitated by nationally and internationally recognized scholars and activists. The participating faculty include: - Kristin Bumiller, Departments of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies, Amherst College
- Amrita Basu, Departments of Political Science and Women's and Gender Studies, Amherst College
- Marshall Ganz, The Kennedy School, Harvard University
- Anthony W. Marx, President, Amherst College
ApplyAll application materials are required to be submitted in one packet. Please enclose the following: - Completed application
- A current CV or resume that shows educational background and work experience
- Official academic transcripts of complete undergraduate school record to date
- Letters of recommendation: two faculty members who can evaluate your academic performance and additional optional evaluation from someone who has supervised your extracurricular activities or is knowledgeable about your leadership skills
- Personal statement, not to exceed two double-spaced typewritten pages, in which you describe a social problem or issue of concern and the role of political activism in addressing it
The application deadline is April 11, 2005. You can download and print the application and recommendation forms as PDF files, application and recommendation. In order to read and print the file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded here for free. If you need to request an application by mail, please contact Leena Valge
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. ContactLeena Valge, Academic Department Coordinator, Women's and Gender Studies
14 Grosvenor House, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002
Phone (413) 542-5781; Fax (413) 542-8192; E-mail
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Women in Black meets in front of the state house at Gervais and Main at
5:00 pm every Wednesday until the US is out of Iraq. Please come.
Post Office Box 7933