Social Justice Academy at Worcester State University

Academy Description:
 
According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in a February 2010 interview commemorating Social Justice Day, “Social Justice based on values of fairness, equity and respect for diversity is more important than ever amid global financial and economic crises that has significantly increased unemployment and poverty and is straining social integration.” 
 
This Social Justice Academy (SJA) will seek to bring to the Worcester State University (WSU) campus socially conscious middle and high school students to engage in dialogues on equality, access, and equity.
 
The inaugural Social Justice Academy will be offered at WSU during the summer of 2012. The SJA will increase awareness of the inequalities that people experience on the basis of their social group membership, along with identifying tools to help foster personal and social change. SJA faculty and staff will provide in-depth labs and activities in an intimate group setting. The SJA will accept approx. 30 middle school students from diverse backgrounds for 2012.
 
The 2012 SJA will offer a variety of age appropriate labs, activities and team-building exercises. The SJA daily format will include a series of academic labs and hands-on activities during the morning and afternoon hours. 

 
Goals:
The SJA is designed to provide students with an interest in social justice with the opportunity to learn, explore and develop skills in areas of dialogue and connectedness. Students will (1) examine individual identities and explore how these identities make us who we are, (2) explore dominate subordinate group dynamics, (3) explore how they can impact their community by developing personal growth goals.   
 
Format and Cost:
The Middle School SJA is a weeklong education experience held from June 25 – June 29, 2012. The middle school program will run from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM daily on the campus of Worcester State University. Lunch will be provided daily in the campus dining hall. The SJA cost $200 and includes instruction, lunch, and a program T-shirt.