-----Original Message-----
From: Homan, Dennis [mailto:DHoman@Courts.sp.state.az.us]
Sent: Thursday, July 11, 2002 12:03 PM
To: service-learning@csf.colorado.edu
Subject:I have been lurking on this list for a while now, and have been impressed with the sharing of information taking place.I run a County Juvenile Court Community Service Work program in northern Arizona, and wish to develop a service-learning option for interested youth that transcends the normal csw type activities. I want to give credit for time spent developing a plan, doing research, analyzing results and for reflection and celebration, not just time "doing". This would mostly be work by individuals, but may include very small groups without court supervision.I would appreciate any feedback on this idea.Dennis Homan
Program Coordinator
Coconino County Juvenile Court
1001 E. Sawmill Road
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
928-226-5420
Fax 928-226-5456
[Homan, Dennis]
Responses I saved were:
Dennis:
I work at Paradise Valley Community College in the Service-Learning Program.
What you might want to do first is make a connection with NAU or any community
colleges in your area.. Flagstaff. I don't know the demographics of your
clients but you might also try High Schools. The school of social work at
NAU or criminal justice programs might also be interested in partnering
with you. This partnering might not happen until Spring semester (most faculty
are on summer break) but it is worth the effort. I think you have a very
interesting idea and wish you good luck.
Dr. Paula Vaughn
Dennis--
I have a lot of experience with youth services (institutional and
otherwise) and have done S-L with both teenagers and college
students. One project I did in a youth prison was to organize a
group of kids to do a public service announcement on youth
violence. It gave kids a wonderful feeling of competence and
accomplishment and at the end we had a "premiere" at the
institution and one off-grounds at an art exhibit on youth violence.
They learned so much and one even got a job offer at the tv station
that ran the spot. I have an unpublished manuscript that I wrote
about this and it might help to guide you.
If you want kids to work together they will need some guidance and
supervision but you might want to connect the kids to a college
course that does S-L and the college students could work with
them. For example, a media studies course might be interested in
the above project. I suggest that you figure out a way to build on
the strengths--the knowledge and skills--that the kids have and
help them put it in service to the community.
Good luck,
Dennis,
I will be in Flagstaff on July 28-29 for the Arizona LeaderCorps
Conference. I would like to talk with you about what you are doing/want to
do with service-learning. I am supervising a VISTA project to establish
service-learning on the Navajo Nation in Arizona. And I am very interested
in the juvenile justice issue. Let me know if a meeting while I am there
would be possible, or if you would be interested in same.