HECUA runs several semester-long programs for college/university students in the Twin Cities. These include:
Inequality in America--fall and spring semesters
Poverty and inequality in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Students learn about the evolution and reproduction of various forms of urban poverty and inequality. They also learn about, evaluate, and participate first-hand in strategies being employed to address these issues.
Environmental Sustainability—fall semesters
Ecosystem degradation and rehabilitation, the social and economic underpinnings of conflict over environmental change, and public policy and community-based strategies to achieve sustainability. Uses social, economic, and environmental sustainability to address the links between rural and urban concerns and the way local decisions relate to regional and global trends. Students learn from community organizers, planners, and business leaders who are creating a more sustainable world.
Art for Social Change--spring semesters
An interdisciplinary study of the role of art and the artist in working for social justice, and an exploration of the relationship between art, culture, and identity. Students meet Twin Cities artists, activists, private and public arts funders, and politicians, and engage in a thorough examination of the role of art in advocating for social change.
Writing for Social Change--fall semesters
Seminars and field study addressing the social, cultural, and ideological contexts of creative writing and literary production, and the ways this work links to community building. The goal is the growth of students as writers, as readers, and as actors in our democracy by examining the role of literature and literary production in creating social transformation.
Agriculture and Justice--spring semesters
Students explore the food system, the roots of land ownership and labor practices in the U.S., unpacking economics and policies. Topics include multinational agricultural production, processing and marketing, community health and economic development and justice. Students visit research laboratories, policy institutes, meatpacking plants, creamery operations, large- and small-scale farms, and participate in an urban farm-to-restaurant project.
Contact
Questions regarding the development of valuable internship projects and about the application or placement process should be directed to HECUA’s Manager of Internships and Community Partnerships, Emily Seru: [email protected] / 651-287-3313/ cell 612-275-4683
Process
Students will contact organizations directly to set up an interview. Both you and the student decide if there is a good fit. You may have the choice between two or three interested students. Please only accept one student intern for your organization unless you've made other arrangements with Emily Seru.