The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American non-profit legal advocacy group and civil rights memorial center specialized in civil rights litigation, monitoring of national hate groups, and Teaching Tolerance, education focused on uncovering racial and social injustice and promoting civil rights education and equity in schools.
What is SPLC on Campus?
SPLC on Campus looks to get students involved in the national discussion on race, gender, economic inequity, criminal justice, privilege, immigration, and religious difference through a diverse range of actions and advocacy. SPLC at Northeastern is a civic engagement service group which brings civil rights and social justice education to youth groups and schools through Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance curriculum, an anti-bias and common core standard program enriched in writing and inquiry around central social justice texts and multimedia.
Service Project Details:
SPLC on Campus works with the afterschool organization Citizen Schools, conducting weekly service in the spring semesters with middle-schoolers on introductory social justice topics, exploring themes of identity, action, culture, and community. We also work with Teen Voices Emerging, a Dorchester based social change writing program for minority female high schoolers; we provide seminars and a week-long February Break Series on race, gender, and social justice. Service will consist of interspersed seminars and events with Teen Voices Emerging as well as other organizations throughout the year and long-term Spring service with Citizen Schools in Spring 2017. Work includes curriculum development research, professional education webinars/in-classroom trainings, organization outreach, and lesson planning.
Service Team:
Seeking 5-6 students, particularly those who identify as underrepresented minorities by gender or racial status. Must be interested in civil rights and intersectional social justice education. You should apply if you are interested in educational equity and value difficult conversations on race and justice.
Timeline and Commitment Details:
Spring 2017: weekly 1 hour meetings, 2 hours of prep per week, 2 hours of direct service. (Commitment hours may increase for those who lead one-time workshops throughout the year with community partners.)
Team Leader:
Ololade Akingbade