The Well.-Trained Practical Idealist The Community Studies Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz In a laid-back town like Santa Cruz, California, the last thing one expects is a well-organized subculture ofinsanely hard-working community activists. Many put in 70 hour weeks, using imagination and tenacity to resolve some of the most difficult problems ofour time. Then they meet up at earthy coffee houses and snack joints to share stories, laugh, relax, and give each other support. If enough ofthem meet, even in places of recreation, casual talk soon turns to serious, detailed discussion ofpressing local issues, strategic coalitions, and outreach. This seems out ofplace in a University town where so many people seem to be suifing, dqncing and lying in the sun. Typically, such a town supports innovative community work, but rarely gets around to organizing any. So where do these people come from? In some part, Santa Cruz owes this effective community sector to the skilled and enthusiastic organizers that pour out ofa very special department at the City on the Hill, also known as the University of California at Santa Cruz. RAIN contributors Eric Belfort (see story on ·the Westside Clinic, next issue), Stefano DeZerega (Director ofthe Overseas Development Network - see his story, 'page 34, on Bolivia's Kechuaymara organization), and 'RAIN contributing editor Jered Lawson, are all graduates ofthe UCSC Community Studies program. At a young age, Jered has organized successful projects integrating homeless issues and agricultural reform. ·Unusual as he is, he is typical of the graduates ofthis program. - GB Story by Jered Lawson Illustrations by Paul Ollswang · I like Clinton's plan to accept two years of community service as payment for college loans. But, how about combining community work with an undergraduate education? After two years of broad-based general studies, participants could enter a program combining the theory and practice of community-level change. Linking field work with formal education could produce skilled, dedicated activists, ready to create a role for themselves in their community. This is not idealistic speculation. The UC Santa _Cruz has run just such a program since 1969. Students enter their first class asking '~how can we do something about AIDS, homelessness, ecological degradation, social injustice, inadequate healthcare ~nd other problems of.our time?" They explore the theory of community change, then do a six-month field study with organizations' that make a difference. Before they graduate with a degree in Community Studies (CS), they ret~m to the University to consolidate their experience, engage in intense discussion with· other CS students, and produce an analytical thesis. This reflection-action-reflection leave~ graduates confident in their commitment to build healthier communities. So if it were possible to amend Clinton's program, we should ask that students sp~nd two years learning how to RAIN Summer 1994 Volume XIV, Number 4 Page 43
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