Sociology 2s: Social Problems—Service Learning
Spring 2010: Instructor: Guido Davis Del Piccolo
Why are we doing Service-Learning?
Service-Learning is a teaching and learning method that integrates community involvement and service with academic
coursework as it focuses on critical, reflective thinking. Through participation in service related to current social problems AND
critical reflection of the experiences, students gain a deeper and more practical understanding of the course content, as well
as, a broader appreciation of sociology.
Through service-learning, students LEARN not only from the instructor and the text, but also from the clients served, from the
community agency personnel, and from themselves. As part of the service-learning experience, students work with both
individual clients AND the agency itself.
Objectives for Service-Learning in Sociology 2s:
1. To increase understanding of the theoretical issues being addressed in the classroom;
2. To stimulate critical thinking about the social arrangements discussed in the classroom;
3. To gain insight into the interrelated nature and underlying causes of social problems;
4. To gain a comprehensive view of the needs of the community being served (beyond just the service being provided);
5. To increase understanding of the operation of community agencies (their existence, goals, objectives, limitations,
challenges, obstacles and successes);
6. To gain exposure to economic, racial and/or ethnic communities which may differ from the students own; and
7. To encourage future community work and social service career exploration.
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SERVICE-LEARNING PROJECT (65% of course grade)
Service Hours:
 Students perform a minimum of 20 hours of community-based service work on a regular weekly basis.
 Students will get credit for no more than 3 hours per visit and for no more than 4 hours per week.
 Students must engage in a minimum of 8 visits to their site/agency.
 Students must complete their service hours by December 7th.
IN SUM: You should do your service work in 2- to 3-hour sessions once per week.
Academic Reflection Journals: (30% of course grade)
 Students submit regularly-scheduled journals regarding their service experiences and observations.
 Journals are not graded for WHAT you say, but rather for HOW you connect with and discuss the issues of the course. Specifically,
the purpose of the journals is to REFLECT on your experiences/observations and to INTEGRATE those into the course material.
Journals are graded according to the above criteria. (see instructions on Journal Writing for more details)
 High quality journals—submitted on time—are required for full credit. Journals submitted late or lacking effort/integration/quality will
receive only partial credit, if any. (see instructions on Journal Writing for more details)
 Some journal assignments might involve developing and/or revising your journal in class through collaborative, small-group work.
There may also be a “journal exchange” where students read and assess a classmates’ journal.
 Journal submissions are typically 3 pages each.
 Students may be asked to read and provide critical/constructive feedback to other students’ journals.
IN SUM: When you’ve completed your visit for the day, take 30-45 minutes to reflect on the experience, place it in the context of
the particular journal assignment, type your journal, and TURN IT IN by the due date.
In-Class Service-Learning Presentations: (10% of course grade)
 Students will be asked to discuss their site and their experiences with their classmates.
IN SUM: Your experiences and observations should not be a secret. We will learn from each other’s experiences.
Service-Learning Paper: (25% of course grade)
 Students develop a final paper INTEGRATING their service experience with the statistical and theoretical discussions occurring in the
classroom.
 This paper is the MOST IMPORTANT part of the “Service-Learning Project” because the paper is where you demonstrate both critical
thinking and a grasp of the course material. (However, the basis of the paper comes from your service and reflection journals.)
 The Service-Learning Paper is typically 15-20 pages and is due December 21st.
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Sociology 2s: Social Problems—Service Learning
Spring 2010: Instructor: Guido Davis Del Piccolo
Instructor Pre-approved Service-Learning Placement Sites
Logistics:
 A MAXIMUM number of students per class are allowed to work at each site. Sites will “close for the class” as students submit their paperwork.
Alternative Site:
 I am more than happy to allow you to join another site at your initiative. However, I must also ensure that the site will serve OUR purposes (i.e.,
your purposes) for this class and the course material. Therefore, if you wish to choose an different site, it should be something similar to and
comparable with the list below.
 Prior to me approving any site not on the list below, you must document to me in writing how the objectives of the assignment (above)
will be met at another site and provide me with complete information on the site.
Pre-Approved Agencies for Service:
AGENCY & MAXIMUM #
OF STUDENTS (PER
CLASS)
WEBSITE
ISSUE
ADDRESS
CITY/AREA
(need to verity)
CONTACT
PHONE
(may not be
current)
1. A Place Called Home (2)
http://www.apch.org
multifaceted agency
2830 S. Central Los Angeles Paris Papiro or 323-232-7653
Ave
Derrion Wyatt x310
2. Access Center (1)
http://www.opcc.net/site/access_center.html
homeless center/ food
distribution
1616 7th Street
Santa Monica Kathy May or
Cherie Harper
310-450-4050
x128
3. Avalon-Carver
Community Center
http://www.avalon-carver.org/ (limited; new website)
multi-purpose community
center
4920 Avalon
Avenue
So. Central
LA
323-232-4391
4. Aviva Family and
Children’s Services
http://www.avivacenter.org/
multi-service agency for atrisk youth and families
7120 Franklin
Avenue
Hollywood /
W. Hollywood
323-876-0550
MUST BE 21 or older
5. Behavior Health Services, http://www.bhs-inc.org/
Inc. (3)
drug / alcohol treatment
BHS HAS MULTIPLE SITES INCLUDING:
Boyle Heights, Hollywood, Lincoln Heights,
Wilmington, East LA, Inglewood, South Bay,
Gardena. SEE BHS WEBSITE.
310-6799126 or contact
particular site
6. Boys & Girls Club (SM)
(2)
http://www.bgcsantamonica.org/
1238 Lincoln
Blvd
Santa Monica Tammy Ito
310-393-9629
7. Boys & Girls Club
(Venice) (2)
http://www.bgcv.org/
2232 Lincoln
Blvd
Venice
Armando Diaz
310-390-4477
x232
8. Center for the PacificAsian Family, Inc. (MAY
REQUIRE LONG TERM
COMMITMENT)
http://www.cpaf.info/
family violence & violence
against women
543 North
Fairfax Avenue,
Room #108
Shawn Kim
310-784-2525
9. Children's Enrichment
Program
http://www.childrensenrichmentprogram.org/
youth services
La Cienega and Los Angeles Leila Sedighan 323-933-1850
Rodeo
10. Chrysalis (3)
http://www.chrysalisworks.org/
Job Readiness Program for
jobless/homeless
1837 Lincoln
Santa Monica Piper Kamins
other sites in LA
& Pacoima (see
web)
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310-392-4117
x332
AGENCY & MAXIMUM #
OF STUDENTS (PER
CLASS)
WEBSITE
ISSUE
ADDRESS
(please verity)
CITY/AREA
CONTACT
PHONE
(may not be
current)
11. Community Center, Inc.
(4)
http://www.ccsapt.org
multi-purpose community
center/ youth leadership
program (tutor/mentoring)
12. Community Coalition (2)
http://www.ccsapt.org/
community organizing
13. Inglewood Community
Education & Resource
Center (3)
http://www.research.ucla.edu/cerc/
UCLA student outreach
project & Inglewood
community partnership
100 Nutwood
14. Korean Immigrant
Workers Advocate
(KIWA) (2)
http://www.kiwa.org/
labor defense, community
organizing. Bilingual
3465 West 8th Los Angeles Cindy Cho
Street, 2nd Floor
213-738-9050
x108
680 South
Wilton Place
213-365-7400
x126
(Spanish or Korean Language helpful)
7522 S. Vermont Los Angeles Kina Chapman 323-752-2115
Ave
x261
So. Central
LA
Jaime Estrada- 323-750-9087
Zambrano
Inglewood
Mandla Kayise 323-293-6341
(new world ed)
15. Koreatown Youth and
Community Center
http://www.kyccla.org/
multi-purpose youth and
community services
16. Los Angeles Team
Mentoring, Inc
http://www.latm.org/
mentoring youth ages 11-15 MULTIPLE
MULTIPLE
SCHOOL SITES (SEE WEB)
Michelle Tucker 213-489-3744
community center
Lucia Diaz
17. Mar Vista Family Center
(4 at different times)
(MAY REQUIRE 6 MONTH COMMITMENT)
http://www.marvistafc.org/
Carlos Soh
5075 Slauson
Ave
Culver City
youth center
1401 Olympic
Blvd
Santa Monica Karen
Humphrey
(about MVFC)
18. Police Activities League
— PAL Santa Monica (2)
Koreatown
310-390-9607
Oscar Leiva
310-392-7673
19. Pico Youth and Family
Center (4)
http://www.picoyouth.org/
youth center
715 Pico Blvd
Santa Monica Yolanda de
310-396-7101
Cordova / Leslie
Sultan / Mike
Jackson
20. Street Poets Inc. (2)
http://streetpoetsinc.com/
At-risk youth services,
detention facilities,
2116 Arlington
Ave
Los Angeles Chris Henrikson 323-737-8545
21. Sweatshop Watch/
Garment Worker Center
(2)
http://www.sweatshopwatch.org/
labor defense, organizing.
1250 S. Los
Fill out volunteer form found Angeles St.,
online and then call.
Suite 206
Los Angeles Stephen Miller
or Kimi Lee or
Cheryl Yip
213-748-5866
Leave message
with email if
necessary.
22. Turning Point Transitional http://www.opcc.net/site/turning_point.html
Housing, OPCC (1)
MUST BE during evenings when clients are present
homeless housing/
counseling
1447 16th Street Santa Monica Vivicia Cole
310-828-6717
23. Venice Community
Housing Corp. (4)
http://www.vchcorp.org/
youth programs (GED) and
housing agency
720 Rose Ave
DO NOT DO THE “HANDYWORKER PROGRAM”
310-399-4100
x124 or x117
24. Watts Labor Community
Action Committee
http://www.wlcac.org/
Workers/family rights
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Venice
Watts
Sal Galvan or
Anne Murphy
323-563-5639