General Course Information

Readings:
Throughout the course, I will be distributing reading materials from the following sources, among others: Robert Coles, Lives of Moral Leadership (Random House, 2000); David Garrow, Bearing the Cross, (William Morrow & Co., 1999); Dennis Judd and Michael Parkinson, eds., Leadership and Urban Regeneration (Sage, 1990); Jonathan Kozol, Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools, (Crown, 1991); Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, (Simon & Schuster, 2000); Tom Rankin, ed., Local Heroes Changing America (W.W. Norton, 2000); Ray Suarez, The Old Neighborhood: What We Lost in the Great Suburban Migration: 1966-1999, (Free Press, 1999).  Additional readings will be chosen in conjunction with the scheduled panelists.

Class Meetings:
The class will meet only on the following Thursdays, 6:45-9:30 p.m. --

Locations (Housatonic and Fairfield) are tentative; transportation to Fairfield will be provided. All Housatonic classes will meet in Room C112f.

Tony Ball's Office Hours:
Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Thursdays, 9:00-11:00 a.m., or by appointment.

Course Description:
The special topics courses in behavioral and social sciences are designed for those students who wish to obtain credit in a selected topic encompassing one or more of the Social Science disciplines.

This special topics course will provide students the opportunity to delve into the social, political, and economic problems of the greater Bridgeport community, and to examine the ways in which local leaders, from various perspectives (elected officials, educators, community organizers, activists, business people, etc.) can work to create positive change in the community.  Through biweekly panel discussions, hands-on experiential learning, and case studies, students will develop the tools to become engaged, as leaders themselves, in their communities, and develop a broader understanding of the ethical relationships between individual character, leadership style, community values and the substantive aims of leadership.

Course Requirements (Grading Percentages for HCC Students):
50%  Course Attendance and Participation.  This grade is based on four factors: (1) actual attendance; (2) demonstrated preparedness; (3) meaningful contributions to class discussions, particularly relating your experiential learning to the panel discussions or matters raised in the readings; (4) meaningful contributions to the on-line discussion forum.

50%  Each student will be required to work with a local government official, non-profit or other community organization, for not less than 3 hours per week, on a specific project approved of by the instructor in consultation with the official or organization.  Projects should go beyond traditional volunteerism, by requiring students to take initiative or a leadership role, and to connect their own experience with broader concepts around leadership and community.  Students will be required to submit a monthly log of their activities, and a paper at the end of the semester reflecting upon their activities and relating them to the panel discussions and assigned readings.  Several of you already are doing internships or other projects, particularly with ACORN.  Each student should meet with me individually between 1/18 and 1/25 to discuss their experiential learning component.  I will also set aside some time on 1/25 to make sure everyone has a well-considered plan.