Summer 2011
Brooklyn LifeLink Bridge Program
BRIDGE SYLLABUS
Welcome to the Brooklyn LifeLink Summer 2011 Bridge Program!
Congratulations Scholar, we are happy to be part of this new and exciting chapter in your life as
you transition to college. Throughout the next five weeks we will be learning and growing
together. This summer program has been designed to expose you to readings and assignments to
help prepare you for college level material. We encourage you to take this opportunity and work
hard (while having fun) to get ready for your first semester at New York City College of
Technology on August 26th, 2011!
Each of our readings and assignments will challenge you to think critically about education.
Together we will explore the question: Does Access Equal Success? Throughout the summer we
will engage in Youth Participatory Action Research; in small groups you will have the
opportunity to work on a research question and project of your own design. At the end of the
program your small group will present your research findings to a group of invited guests.
Course requirements
Scholars are required to:
1. Attend and participate in a five week bridge program; attending Monday – Thursday from
1:30pm to 5pm starting July 5th, 2011 through August 4th, 2011
2. Complete all required weekly assignments in class and at home.
Scholarships & Metrocards
If scholars attend four sessions a week for the five week program and successfully complete their
assigned work they will earn a $500.00 scholarship to support their participation in the Brooklyn
LifeLink Bridge Program. All scholars will receive a Metrocard for transportation to and from
the Bridge location. Scholarships will be released based on attendance and completed assigned; it
will be available for pick up two weeks after the end of the program.
Special events
Tuesday, July 19th
Trip to City Tech
Tuesday, July 26th
Fun trip! (location to be determined)
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Presentation of Final Projects
Friday, August 5th, 2011
Celebration & Certificates
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Class schedule and meeting location
Location:
503 5th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215
July 5th – August 4th
Monday – Thursday 1:30pm – 5pm everyday
Absences/Lateness
Students are expected to inform facilitators if they will be late or absent.
Marisol
(917) 417-3920; Marisol_Zacarias@goodshepherds.org
Mojeje
(646) 841-2617; Mojeje_Omuta@goodshepherds.org
Deshaun
(646) 734-6042; Deshaun_Mars@goodshephers.org
Schedule:
Office Hours
Mojeje, Marisol and Deshaun are available by appointment Monday – Thursday mornings.
Lori
Fior
In July: Wednesdays 10am- 1pm & Fridays 2-5pm
In July: Wednesdays 5pm–7pm
Program Expectations
Effort and Participation
We hope that our Bridge Program will be productive, educational, and fun. We have planned a lot
of sessions and activities that we hope will help you be more prepared for college. The most
important part of this Program though, is you. We will all get out of the Program what we
collectively put into it so we expect all of you to try hard, work hard, think hard and ask hard
questions. We also expect that you will do some of this work alone, some with other students and
some with your program facilitators. Above all, in our work together, we expect an atmosphere of
honesty, caring and respect.
Attendance
We will be doing very intensive, productive work every day. To get the most out of the Program,
it is essential that you come on time prepared to participate in each and every session that we
have. If you will be late or must miss a session for any reason, you must inform us prior to the
session. Unexcused absences will result in:
1. Stipend adjustment or loss
2. Falling behind on in class lectures and assignments
 You are responsible for arranging a date and time to make up the work.
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Assignments
In order to complete your assigned work, you will have to do some work at home. It is
expected that you will be responsible for completing the program’s weekly requirements outlined
below and assigned by the Bridge facilitators. All readings and assignments were carefully
selected to help you develop in your knowledge and skills. If you have questions or concerns
about assignments, please share them with us.
Readings
Wednesday July 6th, 2011
Theresa Perry, Young Gifted and Black, Part One, “Freedom for Literacy and Literacy for
Freedom: The African-American Philosophy of Education” excerpts from pp. 18-24.
Monday, July 11th, 2011
Jonathan Kozol, “Still Separate, Still Unequal: America’s Educational Apartheid”.
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
Noguera, P. A. (2008) The Trouble With Black Boys and Other Reflections on Race, Equity and
the Future of Public Education (Wiley and Sons). Chapter: And What Will Become of Children
Like Miguel Fernandez?
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
Lyrics to:
Tupac, “Changes” 1998 (originally recorded in 1992)
Molotov, “Gimme the Power” 1998
Phil Collins, Another Day in Paradise, 1989
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Lawson Fusao Inada, “Eatin’ With Sticks”
Writing
Educational Autobiography Assignment
This paper asks you to reflect on your life by showing how it has been impacted by your
education to this point. Discuss your own educational and/or professional goals by reflecting on
the following: what is your view on education? How have your past educational experiences been
from kindergarten through high school? What/who has inspired you educationally? What are
your future educational goals and plans? Do you have any fears about college? Conversely, what
are you excited about. What are some academic areas you feel need improvement? A reflection
paper is simply that, a reflection. Your answers should show thoughtfulness, evidence drawn
from readings, discussions and personal experiences, and strong communication skills.
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Writing prompt given in class on Tuesday, July 12th:
Who/what has inspired you educationally? Who/what has had a big impact on the way that you
think about education/school/learning and your plans for the future?
Draft of Essay will be due on Wednesday, July 13th
Final essay will be due on Monday, July 18th
Research Assignment
In small groups of 5-6 youth you will be assigned a research topic. The topics will be
brainstormed by the group and you will have the opportunity to pick a research topic that is of
interest to you. In your small group you will choose together the design of your research. Some
research methods to think about and that we will review in Bridge are: Interviews, using data,
community mapping, and observation. The group will conduct the research together. But your
interpretation and write up of the research will be done individually. Each member of the group
will be responsible for completing a 3 page research paper. In the paper you must use at least 3
different sources of information.
Outline of your research paper is due on Thursday, July 21st
Draft of your research paper is due on Thursday, July 28th
Final paper is due on Thursday, August 4th
Basic Requirements for the research paper:
1. Paper typed
2. Thesis clearly stated in intro and referenced in the conclusion
3. Correct documentation style used in text
4. Citing evident
5. Minimum 3 sources (and a variety of types)
6. Works Cited/Bibliography or References accurate and correctly formatted
7. Paper meets minimum length standard (at least three typed pages, excluding
title and Works Cited/Bibliography or References)
8. Evidence of consistent and conscientious editing
What is Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)?
Paraphrased from the VAYLA of New Orleans website (A Vietnamese-American Youth
Organization)
“Rather than relying on outsiders to impose a research design and methodology, YPAR
empowers youth to conduct their own research based on the first hand knowledge that youth have
of the issues. It equips youth to identify pressing issues and the knowledge to take collective
action.”
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