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of the 2005 Voice of Inclusion Medallion presented by the
American
College Personnel Association
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Social Justice Training Institute
“The Student Experience”
May 20-25, 2008
University of Illinois
The First Student SJTI – San Jose State University, July 2007
What is Social Justice?
Adams, Bell and Griffin (2007) define social justice as both a process and a goal. "The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of all groups in a society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure."
Reference:
Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice: A Sourcebook. Edited by Maurianne Adams, Lee Anne Bell, and Pat Griffin.
What is the Social Justice Training Institute?
Since December of 1998, the Social Justice Training Institute has been providing an opportunity for individuals committed to issues of inclusion to develop their skills in the areas of dialogue and connectedness. Over 450 professional colleagues have participated in this experience to date. We have now expanded the experience to include an opportunity for students to gather and do some “personal work” related to social justice issues. The institute is open to 60 undergraduate students on college and university campuses in the U.S. and abroad. This advanced experience is for students who have done a fairly significant amount of work on social justice issues. Six alumni will join two or three SJTI faculty to complete the facilitation team.
Institute Format
The Social Justice Training Institute will provide an intensive developmental opportunity for students to examine the complex dynamics of oppression and to develop strategies to foster positive change on their campuses and in their communities.
Many campuses and communities offer opportunities to learn about the culture, observances, history and experiences of those who different from us: culture nights, food festivals and educational publicity campaigns are an important part of learning about those around us. Many students committed to change work hard to gain knowledge of their own and other communities, and can serve as resources and leaders on their campus. Building on those important pieces, we invite you to join similar students from a variety of campuses for an experience focused on what we can learn about ourselves, our own identities, and our skills in order to be more effective advocates, allies and agents for change. SJTI Student Experience is the rare opportunity to reflect on our own identities, experiences and impacts, and to focus on what we each can do to better embody social justice.
Students who attend the institute will be given the opportunity to explore the identities that make up who they are and better understand the extent to which these identities impact all they do. Through facilitated activities and exercises along with small group dialogue, participants will engage in conversations that will challenge and support them in their journey toward understanding how they can each – individually – impact our global community. To this end, each student will be asked to obtain a “Coach” from their home campus and to develop a Social Justice Commitment (SJC) detailing personal growth goals, an intervention that will impact their home campus and ways in which they can contribute to their community. The Coach must be a faculty member, staff member or administrator on the student’s home campus. Participants will work with their Coach after the institute to continue their growth process and to implement their SJC.
Future Institutes
To be announced
Applying to SJTI: Eight easy steps
- Find an administrator or faculty member who is willing to serve as your “SJTI Coach”. Please note: This person must be a staff or faculty member on your campus.
- Begin investigating possible sources of funding for your registration and travel costs.
- Go online and complete the SJTI Application. No money is needed at this point. Deadline: March 3, 2008
- Have your “SJTI Coach” go online and complete the recommendation form. Deadline: March 3, 2008
- Wait patiently until the host committee makes decisions on participants. Decisions made: March 13, 2008
- If you are selected, finalize your funding and send registration payment. Attendance Confirmation Due: March 28, 2008, Payment Due: April 4, 2008
- Finalize your travel plans to Champaign, IL
- Attend SJTI with enthusiasm, excitement and a sense of wonder!
Click here to receive these steps in check list form.
Contents
©2007, Social Justice Training Institute
