Blogs, Websites,

and Other Media

 

A variety of e-media that we've found useful are collected here for your perusal. Perhaps you, too, will find inspiration among them for your own efforts in the area of social justice.

 

SOCACT Blogs Individuals Making a Difference Social Justice Sites

 
Local-Global Initiatives Using the Arts for Social Change Professional Publications & Organizations

 
Spirituality Service-Learning International Service-Learning

 

SOCACT Blogs
Social Action Project (SOCACT) blog

http://www.sbsocact.whitepress.com

 
Social Action Project (SOCACT) postings on the American Democracy Project blog of Indiana University South Bend

http://ee.iusb.edu/index.php?/adp/category/C99/

 

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Individuals Making a Difference

Ken Smith's tireless efforts to pry open the discussion of democracy in America and around the world

http://ee.iusb.edu/index.php?/adp

 
What Michelle Verges did to collect and recycle the mountain of plastic bags we all have tucked away in cupboards

http://www.conserveplasticbags.blogspot.com/

 
How Sarah Cool brings her passion for her homeland on Hispaniola into a haven in Kansas City, MO

http://www.kafekiskeya.blogspot.com/

 

"N a Sonje believes that the day has come when eyes and ears are no longer sufficient to bring the truth home to our hearts through just words, pictures or sounds. An ancient method of incarnating the life of another so that we may have the courage to search for forgiveness and compassion for ourselves, our sisters and brothers, our nations, our children, our children's children and for the hope of the future." (excerpt from the blog)

http://www.nasonje.blogspot.com

 

Three Innocents & a Spirit, a product of the N A SONJE FOUNDATION: 700 years of history in less than an hour. The play is a consciousness raising event about humanity's mutual responsibility to heal the wounds of colonization and racism. It is also a fundraiser for the Foundation's project, The Memory Village.

"The play exposes the destruction and acculturation of the Native Americans and the enslavement of Africans, which resulted in a transfer of wealth and natural resources to Europe. During the drama the Native American, European, and African characters experience a transformational awakening through which they realize their physical and spiritual losses, as well as their mutual need for one another. The three characters then offer each other gestures of compassion and forgiveness, ultimately recognizing the need for healing and reconciliation." (excerpt from the blog)

http://www.3innocents.blogspot.com/

 

“To reconstruct for the purpose of education and conscientization of the present generations and those to come of the historical memory of colonisation, the slave trade, the genocide of Africans and Native Americans as precisely as possible from the Haitian point of view by building an African, Quisqueyan, Ayitian village: a living museum/university where those of every nation may come and relive those historical realities in order to bring healing and redemption.” (excerpt from the blog)

http://www.memoryvillage.blogspot.com

 

Two community centers in South Bend, Indiana play an important role in providing services for youths and adults on the west side of South Bend, Indiana. Both centers have a paid staff, and offer programs year round that are made possible through the dedication of a host of neighborhood volunteers.

 

Martin Luther King Center

http://www.sbpark.org/centers/king.htm

Charles Martin Youth Center

http://www.sbheritage.org/cmyc.html

 

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Local-Global Initiatives
"Can they [NGOs] both facilitate governments’ withdrawal from providing basic services for all and also claim to represent the poor and the disenfranchised? Are NGOs legitimate political actors in their own right?" (excerpt from Forward)

http://www.developmentinpractice.org/readers/NGOs/about.htm

 
A distributor of independent films based in Pennsylvania that offers a wide range of educational films about issues such as human rights, ethics, health, biotechnology, women's studies, Indigenous peoples, the developing world, environment & ecology, the performing arts. Films are suitable for classrooms, public meetings, or personal enlightenment.

http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/

 
Eldis, a gateway to development information, services , jobs, manuals, and toolkits. Subscribers can receive regular e-bulletins about 25 topics such as ageing populations, education, forestry, gender, HIV & AIDS, questioning and influencing development, and corporate responsibility.

http://www.eldis.org

 
A Kim Kindersley film about The Gathering, the calling together of tribal elders, dreamtime song singers and storytellers from Indigenous cultures around the world. We bear witness to the power of unity through the spiritual return of the Whale Dreamers, an Indigenous people in Australia. Along the way we learn about humanity's responsibility to protect the balance amongst ourselves and with the earth. The site is interactive, providing updates on issues regarding ocean ecology, the environment, and Indigenous peoples.


 http://www.whaledreamers.com

 

Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership (CWIL) fosters the intercultural knowledge and competence critical to educating the next generation of women leaders. CWIL, housed in Saint Mary's College, operates the Catalyst Project which includes a week-long immersion to explore race and class privilege, an annual Wellsprings conference to examine the role of women in global leadership, and a roster of activities geared to promoting positive mental health for students and communities. All of CWIL's initiatives emphasize building collaborative relationships between the university and the community that it serves.

http://www.cwil@saintmarys.edu

 

The African Immigrants Social and Economic Development Agency (AISEDA) provides a variety of programs and services to assist newly resettled refugees. The overall aim is to strengthen the social and economic well-being of individuals as well as the [Fort Wayne] community. Services offered include ESL classes, employment services, civic education, financial literacy, and cultural orientation. (excerpt from website)

http://www.aiseda.org

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Using the Arts for Social Change
Jay Pather, our very first cultural consultant  in South Africa, is highly renowned as Director for the Siwela Sonke Dance Company.

http://www.culturalradius.co.za/pic2.htm

 
Art for Humanity, our community partner in Durban, South Africa

http://www.afh.org.za/

 
Umcebo Trust, our community partner in Durban, South Africa

http://www.umcebotrust.co.za/

 
An advocacy organization for people with disabilities in the areas of arts education, arts administration, and to encourage and support artists. This site is for the Indiana affiliate with links to the national and international organizations.

http://www.vsai.org/

 

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Professional Organizations and Publications
National Association of Poetry Therapy, "world-wide community of poets, writers, journalkeepers, helping professionals, health care professionals, educators, and lovers of words who recognize and appreciate the healing power of language." (excerpt from the website)

http://www.poetrytherapy.org/

 
Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies

http://www.safundi.com/

 
Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 American Psychological Association

http://www.scra27.org/events.html

 

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Social Justice Sites

 

The Center for the Homeless, our community partner in South Bend, IN.

http://www.cfh.net/

 

Another Bookstore is a clearinghouse for resources, materials, speakers, and community for members of the LGBT community in the Michiana area.

http://www.anotherbookstore.com

 
Center for Community Enterprise provides expertise and resources for community economic development with particular focus on building and maintaining community relationships.

http://www.cedworks.com

 
News, Events, Actions and Commentary. Radical, progressive change in the law and social justice. Anti-racism. .......... The United People of Color Caucus (TUPOCC) of the National Lawyers Guild

http://www.nlgtupocc.blogspot.com/

 

"Michiana's site for substance abuse and HIV education." (excerpt from website)

http://www.imaniunidad.org/

 

South Bend Heritage Foundation, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit service and community development corporation that is committed to the stabilization, enhancement and empowerment of our inner city neighborhoods. Through physical development, advocacy and education, the Foundation creates an environment which promotes collaboration and embraces diversity to help assure an equitable and just future. (excerpt from website)
 

http://www.sbheritage.org/index.html

 

The Center for Social Concerns, housed at Notre Dame University, researches social issues from multiple perspectives, and takes an active role in bringing about social justice. The Center provides experiential and service-learning courses as well as immersion experiences in the local community and around the United States. Faculty support for community-based research and application scholarship is available through the Ganey Award and several mini-grants.

http://www.centerforsocialconcerns.nd.edu

 

An alternative to incarceration that focuses on community and relationship building rather than retribution.

http://www.restorativejustice.org/rj3/intro_default.htm

 

Proving that you're never too old to fight for social change.

http://www.raginggrannies.com/

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Spirituality

A site with links to interfaith religious sites with information about materials, speakers, and publications; service organizations; networking opportunities; communities of prayer; groups promoting a global ethic; groups promoting sexual inclusivity; and other sites of general interest.

http://www.conjure.com/religion.html

 
The debate about science versus spirituality is a distraction that misdirects our collective energy. This site is for discussions about the crossroads between science and spirituality, because one cannot exist without the other and none of us can exist without them both. Rather than fighting over which is sovereign, we explore the ways science and spirit can serve humanity, and perhaps (if we are diligent) save us.

http://www.witchdoctordae.whitepress.com

 
"A post-modern seeker of ancient wisdom, integrating his multicultural Ayitian roots (African, Native, European) and translating primordial vision and spirituality into today’s context, with the intention to help create a sustainable multicultural post-modern society in balance with herself, Nature and the Cosmos, and showing reverence for the diversity of life. His intention is to promote mutual respect, understanding and comprehension between cultures and between people, as well as to raise awareness of the vital importance these values have for the peace and well being of humanity." (excerpt from blog)

http://www.djaloki.blog.com

 

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Service-Learning

Campus Compact is a consortium of universities around the United States. This is the national clearinghouse where you can find out whether an institution in your state is a member, order curriculum materials, identify speakers and existing programs, apply for funding or other resources.

http://www.campuscompact.org

 

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International Service-Learning

 
An accredited international tour company offering credits to teachers as well as students wanting to intern abroad.

http://www.iie.org

 
A non-profit organization with volunteer programs of various lengths in sites in South America, Mexico, west Africa, eastern Europe, and the US Navajo Nation.

http://www.globalservicelearning.org/

 

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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
dbryant@iusb.edu