inequality in america
Alumni Profile: Minrose Straussman
When I signed up for HECUA-Metro Urban Studies Term (now Inequality in America) in 2012, I was hoping to learn how to put my passion for equity in education into action. The notion of praxis HECUA taught me—the idea that I can put social justice values into action through my work—is something I now use daily as a curriculum consultant and writer, helping organizations design their English language arts, English as a Second Language, and social studies courses. Read More »
Mental Health, Self Care, and HECUA: More from Tori
What I love about HECUA’s Inequality in America program is not just the class material, the internship placement, or the incredible cognitive growth you go through, but the way in which the program director Phil Sandro makes time for students’ mental health. Read More »
inequality in america, student blogger, Student story, Study USA
Alumni Profile: Zitlali Chavez Ayala
“Having knowledge of systemic issues has helped me have more confidence as I advocate for families. I can see what they are working against and where they are coming from.” Read More »
Unlocking Group Power: Social and Political Participation
In HECUA’s Inequality in America program we draw on Paul Loeb’s book Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in Challenging Times to dismantle the feelings of powerlessness that keep people from engaging in social movements. Loeb writes about the “false myth” that a person taking a political stand has to be a “larger-than-life figure—someone with more time, energy, courage, vision, or knowledge than any normal person could ever possess.” Read More »
Upholding Dignity in Experiential Education – Student blogger Tori
What changed in the last forty years that allowed this drastic increase in inequality? Not having found the answers to these basic questions in my studies, I joined HECUA’s Inequality in America program. There I found potential answers, and still more questions. Read More »
When White Wokeness Comes at the Expense of People of Color
HECUA programs offer students a chance to think deeply about the issues that matter most, and we’d like to share a piece of that experience with you. This semester, students in our Inequality in America, Art for Social Change, and Making Media, Making Change programs are writing a series of blog posts on a topic of […] Read More »
Optional Student Services Fees Harm Students’ Mental Health
Admitting you have a problem is hard. Asking for help is harder. Figuring out where to find that help is even more challenging. When it comes to mental health, it comes as no surprise that university students experience intense levels of stress and subsequent mental health issues like depression and anxiety Read More »
An Open Letter from HECUA student Ashton
HECUA programs offer students a chance to think deeply about the issues that matter most, and we’d like to share a piece of that experience with you. This semester, students in our Inequality in America, Art for Social Change, and Making Media, Making Change programs are writing a series of blog posts on a topic of […] Read More »
HECUA classroom series: No Room for Error
I mean that I was about 75% leaning towards the liberal approach, with the other 25% of me saying that you still have to work hard to be successful. Essentially what it boils down to is the structure vs. agency argument. This is where it got tricky for me, because I felt very strongly that if someone worked hard, they could at least achieve a decent standard of living. What I didn’t always factor into the equation was the fact that sometimes things don’t always go as planned. Read More »
Art for Social Change and Inequality in America programs begin
Twin Cities programs Art for Social Change and Inequality in America begin Read More »