Composition II: Writing the Community

In this class, students will investigate and write about what defines "community," how communities respond to challenges, and how people act--and write--to sustain and create change in their communities. Part of this work will proceed through reading and classroom activities, though students will also apply and support what we learn in the classroom through service-learning. Students will engage people and places in the North River community of Toledo, and collaborate with students from a Toledo high school. On a number of occasions during the semester, students will travel as a class to north Toledo to meet community members and conduct research; students will also participate individually in two service activities in north Toledo. The high school students will also visit campus to work with the class on joint projects. The Learn and Serve America, Great Cities Great Service grant led by Otterbein College, Ohio Campus Compact, and University of Cincinnati is a state-wide consortium to mobilize college students and urban youth volunteers in civic service through their model initiative, youthLEAD (Learn, Engage, Act & Decide). Twelve campuses are currently incorporating youthLEAD into one or more service-learning courses on their campuses. Participants serve side-by-side with urban youth as capacity builders, solving community problems, serving those living in poverty, and strengthening urban wellness.