What we do

 

Youth Community Theater (YCT) Poetry Jams Sexual Minorities and Alternative Lifestyles (SMAAL) Giving Hope Project Recovery International

 

  Looking Through History, Back: Some initiatives have reached a logical end and others have evolved.
 
 
The Social Action Project (SOCACT) began in 1985 as a part of an initiative between Michigan State University and Benton Harbor, MI. In 1990 the SOCACT moved to Indiana University South Bend, housed in the Psychology Department, where it remains today.
 
The project director responds to calls for assistance by talking with people in the community to understand the problem. We ask community residents, "What do you need?" and then work with them to decide a course of action. The result is joint initiatives which are implemented through collaboration between residents and the SOCACT team.

As the team and residents co-create initiatives, the teams conduct important research on problems faced by real people. The Project takes efficacy theory -- theory about the ways people exercise of control over their lives -- and asks how well it can be applied in community settings. The findings from these studies are presented at professional conferences in the USA, Canada, Nigeria, and South Africa. They have also appeared in books, professional journals and newspaper articles -- all to try and close the gap between what social scientists believe we know and what happens in real life.

Most importantly, people in communities gain mastery over the situations of their lives. Project initiatives change as community needs change. Some of the initiatives will reach a logical end and others will evolve. The work is always on-going, and nothing is ever static because change is a fact of life. There is no single answer to the problems people face on a daily basis. There are answers with different levels, and they are always provisional.

As a teaching model, the SOCACT uses the principles of service-learning. The classroom component is designed to complement the field research to ensure that students gain knowledge as well as acquiring skills. Course content emphasizes social justice and civic engagement; students explore their responsibilities and ethical dilemmas through personal reflection and discussion.

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 Youth Community Theater (YCT): Using the arts as a vehicle for social change since 1992. The creative pieces examine personal development, political action, and consciousness raising. Youths perform original material and adapted work, create "found art," construct moveable murals, and write puppet theater. Exhibits and performances relating to children and their rights are created and presented in venues around the Michiana area.

        

  • Child Rights Exhibit: seeking venues for traveling exhibit at IU South Bend and other venues in Michiana for Spring, 2009.

 
  • Art Explore at Center for the Homeless, South Bend, IN partnered with Umcebo Trust, Durban South Africa.

 
  • Art Camp and Summer Program

 
  • YCT Performances

Silent Network (1993)

Life in Benton Harbor (1994)

How the Birds Got Their Colors (1997)

 

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  Poetry Jams: an open mike forum for poets to perform new works as well as works in progress. The goal is to use the power of the "spoken art of poetry" to bring about community involvement, conflict resolution, self-expression, and healing the social -isms. The Jams are held monthly; the Slams were held annually for two years. The first Poetry Jam was held as part of the Indiana University South Bend Conversations on Race in 1997, a collaboration that still occurs annually. Two chap books containing poetry performed at the Jams and Slams have been printed. Proceeds from the chap books were used to support the Jams.

We need a facilitator for the Poetry Jams and                     an editor for the anthology.

One person with mad skills could do both.

 

  • Poetry Jam Chap Books

Generation X: Healing Racism and Sexism through The Flow and Blow of Poetry (1998)

Generation X: Healing Racism and Sexism -- Flowin' and Blowin' on A Higher Level (1999)

 
  • Anthology (proposed)

Calling Down the Thunder: Intricate Thoughts about Overcoming Racism and Sexism

 

 

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  Sexual Minorities and Alternative Lifestyles (SMAAL): using Internet technology to examine issues relevant to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning community. To work with treatment centers to align service delivery to addicts and alcoholics with sexuality issues. The emancipatory design looks at the issues without assuming pathology. The initiative was first implemented in 1994 and continues to this date.

  • Homosexuality and Alienation

Survey research to examine addiction and alcoholism in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community. The studies were conducted in four cities in the United States and one city in South Africa.

 
  • Breaking Silence: An  International Network

 

 

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  Giving Hope Project: to protect the rights of and provide support to orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS that they may be empowered to manage their own well-being and the stability of their families. The initiative will monitor the impact of the program which is based in Kigali, Rwanda.

 

 

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 Recovery International: replicates each initiative by linking participants in The United States with international partners. The sister-sites are implemented at the grass-roots (on-the-ground) level so that individuals are talking with individuals and relationships are formed. The international sites are in Durban, South Africa and Kigali, Rwanda.

 

 

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  Looking Through History, Back: Some initiatives reach a logical end and others evolve:

 

Intervention and Change:  A Network Team Approach to Grass-Roots Action

 

 Breaking Down Barriers: Welfare Recipient Views about Education Culture & Heritage  Video Series: Celebrating Ourselves Shaping Adolescent Attitudes: Family Relations and    Adolescent Self-Image Education 2000: Local Education and Global Awareness

 
Africa Book Project Pen Pals & Sister Families: Crossing the Cultural  Divide

 

 Building Unity Between Old  & Young Partnerships in Achievement  

 

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To help people develop resource and communication networks; manage racial and ethnic tensions so that effective networks are possible; to decide which problems to address and in what order; to identify "tools" that people already have and create those that are still needed; to monitor how well problems are addressed and make changes in strategy as required.

Evolution: residents developed action groups in four neighborhoods which remain active

 

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To create a resource guide to reduce long-term dependency on welfare and increase self-sufficiency; to address lack of education or access to continued education; to develop a how-to manual on continuing education despite the welfare system; to walk individuals through the process.

Outcome: the resource guide was developed and distributed through word of mouth, woman to woman

 

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To create a series of tapes highlighting talents and abilities of residents; to train some residents in marketable skills of video-recording and editing; to improve visibility and image of Benton Harbor with positive images about people and life in the city; to air the tapes on public access television.

Outcome: the video series was created and made available through community organizations, segments were aired on local public access television

 

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To focus on adolescent self-image and issues of self-esteem, to focus on communication with family and peers, especially in terms of the impact it has on these relationships; to identify the dynamics which may help or hinder that communication; to help youths develop strategies to improve communication and strengthen relationships.

Evolution: elements of this initiative became incorporated into the Youth Community Theater

 

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To design and implement a model school curriculum at the primary level, including a teacher training notebook; to develop a curriculum in art studies and creative arts education; to establish an artist exchange program focusing on local artists in the partner communities.

Outcome: Political instability in Nigeria forced this project to be suspended

Media Coverage

 

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To collect 20,000 books to establish a public library in the community of Abatete, Nigeria; to establish an information exchange between people in the partner communities.

Outcome: Collected 26,000 books from the Michiana area. The Pioneer Library was established. Political instability in Nigeria forced this project to be suspended before further development could occur.

 

Media Coverage

 

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To learn how much Americans and Nigerians have in common as well as to learn about the ways we differ from one another; to learn about economics, politics, and social policy in Nigeria and in the United States; to develop relationships between elementary school classrooms in the two communities.

Outcome: Five elementary classrooms in the two communities exchanged letters for one year. Political instability in Nigeria forced this project to be suspended.

 

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An intergenerational program pairing youths and elders to explore cultural heritage. Youths and elders collaborate on plays for the community theater group.

Outcome: For one year youths from the local public housing complex met with elders at the Senior Citizens Center for social hour. Elders told stories about their youth, worked with youths on crafts, shared in celebrations.

 

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Culture and heritage are used to teach youths basic business skills and to develop responsibility, individuality, motivation, and self esteem. Monies are used to help support the Youth Community Theater (YCT).

Evolution: Youths developed t-shirts which they sold in preparation for the YCT's performance entitled, Silent Network.

 

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Contact:

Dr. Dé Bryant, Director
Social Action Project
Psychology Department, Indiana University South Bend
1700 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, IN 46634
(574) 520-4447 -- tel (574) 520-4538 -- fax

http://sbsocact.whitepress.com

 
dbryant@iusb.edu