Ideas for Service Learning Projects
Compiled from Honors Student Forum:
Building Blocks: Constructing Lives in a Diverse Northwest Arkansas (April 25, 2006)

In the Spring 2006 semester, a group of honors students planned, organized, and hosted a special forum, Building Blocks: Constructing Lives in a Diverse Northwest Arkansas. After being trained to moderate the forum, and then completing instruction in different cultures by Dr. Chris Huggard and a host of special guests, such as Dr. Charles Robinson (African-American History), Dr. Rosario Nolasco (Latin American/Mexican Culture), Dr. Tatsuya Fukushima (Japanese Society & Culture), and Dr. Daniel Levine (Judaism Yesterday & Today) from the University of Arkansas and Special Guest Dr. Liping Zhu (Chinese in the American West) from Eastern Washington University, they welcomed the public to the forum in the Shewmaker Center from 7-9pm on April 25, 2006. Their goal was to discuss the concerns and advantages of diversity in Northwest Arkansas and then to request ideas from the audience on how NWACC students can help address some of the community's needs. The result was the recording and compiling of ideas for Service Learning projects for specific courses here at NWACC.

Honors Student Moderators: Becky Hudson (Introduction), Amanda Culmer (moderator--Socio-Cultural Dynamics), Melanie Beale (moderator--Diversity and Education), Ian Robertson (moderator--Economics and Diversity), Caleb Mosby (Conclusion), Valerie Learned and Chris Cuchia (recorders), Inder Pal Singh, Maria Pulido, Allyson Ransom (troubleshooters--logistics and sound/microphones).

Below is the compilation of the Service Learning ideas:

1. Stephen Helms, Chief of Police, feels that some possible needs to newcomers of Northwest Arkansas include:

• Educating them on local laws (criminal, civil and traffic)
• Informing them of how local government works
• Educate them on the culture we have here in Northwest Arkansas
• Language training

He feels that possible avenues to spread this information would be through establishing group organizations to help in providing these services, as well as spreading information packets with contact information or tips in educating yourself in these areas. He affirms that his organization would be interested in assisting or hosting student volunteers in the efforts of this project.

Some of the curriculum offered on campus that ties in could be;

• (CMJS 2013) Introduction to Criminal Justice
• (PLSC 2203) State and Local Government
• (PLSC 2003) American Government
• (FLAN 2003) Intermediate Foreign Language I
• (SOCI 2013) General Sociology
• (PSYC 2003) General Psychology

2. Allyn Lord, of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History, feels that some possible needs to newcomers of Northwest Arkansas include:

• Learning and understanding the history (culture) of our area
• Way-finding, both tangible and virtual
• Information about (and access to) community resources

She feels that possible avenues to achieve these goals are by incorporating:

• A “You & Your Community” resource fair
• Providing a “one-stop shopping” database online of community resources
• Teaming with area museums and historical societies to promote and deliver programs on area history

She informs us that her organization would possibly be interested in hosting or assisting students in this effort. She also informs us that her organization already maintains a file library online with information and images pertaining to the history of the Arkansas Ozarks – from prehistoric time to present. She says they continually add information and images (in particular from the current era), and that they would be honored to house any resource materials our students may produce or uncover.

Some of the curriculum offered on campus that ties in could be;

• (BOTY 2534) Environmental Biology
• (GEOL 1114) General Geology
• (GEOL 1134) Environmental Geology

3. Shana Dill, of Springdale, feels that the following are potential needs of newcomers to Northwest Arkansas:

• Enriching them in the culture of our area
• Providing information regarding local attractions
• Maps to local attractions as well as to school locations
• English and Spanish classes

She feels that some possible avenues of achieving these goals would be:

• A group or organization founded to gather the information
• Said group taking charge to distribute packets containing the information
• Said group taking a part in assisting with language skills

Some curriculum we offer at the college that may tie in to this could be;

• (FLAN 2003) Intermediate Foreign Language I

4. Bill Stringer, of Rogers High School, feels that the potential needs of newcomers to Northwest Arkansas with children who do not speak English as their primary language are:

• Providing those students with assistance in overcoming their language barriers

He believes this could be achieved by:

• Tutoring and mentoring high school aged students with language barriers

He claims that his organization would be willing to assist or host students to help in the achievement of this goal.

A possible course of action on this would be the formation of a student organization/group, whose members are bilingual, with the mission of doing after-hour mentoring/tutoring to children in need.

Curriculum on campus that may tie in to this could be;

• (FLAN 2003) Intermediate Foreign Language I
• (SOCI 2013) General Sociology
• (PSYC 2103) Human Growth & Development
• (SOCI 2033) Social Problems

5. Sonya Macy feels that the potential needs of newcomers to Northwest Arkansas could be met by providing the following aid:

• A “Welcome Wagon”
• Housing Guide
• Job Opportunity Information
• School Information
• Street Maps

Avenues of reaching these goals:

• A “Welcome Wagon” to be established that would consist of team members willing to go to the new residents home; welcome them to the community; inform them about our many schools; provide street maps/job guides; and to be willing to take them with you in a ‘tour’ of what the area has to offer. An outreach program, in a way.

Some curriculum at our school that may tie in to this goal;

• (SOCI 2013) General Sociology
• (PSYC 2003) General Psychology
• (PLSC 2203) State and Local Government
• (FLAN 2003) Intermediate Foreign Language I

6. Danny Sheffield, of NWACC Adult Education, feels that the following areas are needs of incoming people to Northwest Arkansas;

• Gaining an understanding of both U.S. and local culture
• Access to Health Services

In light of these needs, he feels that the incorporation of the following methods may help meet overcoming these areas:

• Community health forums held at local churches, CBO, schools, etc.
• Forums held on the educational system of the U.S.

Curriculum currently in place on our campus that may tie in to these missions;

• (PLSC 2203) State and Local Government
• (PLSC 2003) American Government
• (PLSC 2803) International Relations
• (HIST 2003) History of American People to 1877
• (HIST 2013) History of American People 1877 to Present
• *Health Related/Life Skills courses, such as the Nursing Program, Fitness, etc

7. Deborah L. Schwartz, of Elmdale Elementary, feels that the primary needs of new

citizens moving into Northwest Arkansas are:

• Locating Jobs
• Communicating with “important individuals”
• Establishing relations with Doctors, Dentists, Child Care Facilities
• Being introduced to educational sites for both children and parents
• Parenting centers
• A “Media-Based Business Consortium of Human Relations”

She proposes the fruition of these needs being met by;

• Student-based, free translation clinics
• Free English learning & reading classes for both adults and children
• A job locating facility (job posting center) for the culturally diverse

She feels that her organization, Elmdale Elementary, would likely be willing to help in hosting or assisting students in meeting these goals. She makes further comment, saying that holding a “Cultural Diversity Month”, with culturally-enriched festivities along with free literature to the public educating on the many cultures found within our own state.

Some curriculum currently offered at our campus that may tie in to this goal;

• (SOCI 2013) General Sociology
• (PSYC 2003) General Psychology
• (PLSC 2203) State and Local Government
• (FLAN 2003) Intermediate Foreign Language I
• *Health Related/Life Skills courses, such as the Nursing Program, Fitness, etc

For questions/comments on this content, please contact honors@nwacc.edu.

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