Capstone Courses: Summer Term 2011

The information below is updated often.  Please refer to the PSU Class Schedule for the CRNs, days and times of the following courses.  Additionally students who miss the first class and fail to notify the instructor may be dropped from the course to allow the enrollment of other students waiting for a seat in the Capstone.

CAP: ADDRESS FOOD GAP AT P:EAR
Addressing the Food Gap at p:ear
Sarah Dougher, sarahdougher@gmail.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/addressing-food-gap-pear
p:ear is a downtown Portland organization that engages homeless and transitional youth, 15-24, using mentorship and the tools of education, art and recreation.  p:ear's Kitchen and Food program provides hands-on training for youth in the areas of food preparation, nutrition, and the economics of eating. This capstone will partner with p:ear to engage students in scholarship about food culture, social justice and sustainability, developing independent research about homeless adolescents and food insecurity. Students will forge new relationships with food providers in the region to support p:ear's work, and determine other appropriate modes of engagement with the organization.

CAP: AFRICAN CHILDREN
African Children Capstone
Sam Gioia, gioia@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/global-pdx-african-children
This capstone will involve tutoring and mentoring newly arrived African Refugee Youth in outer SE Portland.  PSU classroom meetings will take place on Monday afternoons with online discussions and tutoring during the rest of the week.  Students will tutor K-5 children from 9 to 11:30 once a week M-W 9:30-12 from July 5 to July 27.  PSU coursework will address issues of culture, language, and academic success for refugee youth.  Attendance the first week of class (6/27) is required to be in this capstone.

CAP: ART AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Teaching Art and Social Change
Conrad Schumacher, cnarroti@earthlink.net
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/art-and-social-change
Some of the essential questions driving the curriculum of this Capstone are: How can Art be a force for social change? What is change and how does it occur? What models of thinking do we use to reflect and structure models of change? What limits, if any, should there be to how we, how Art affects change? What are the differences between change and voice? What are the differences between protest and change? How do Change and Art intertwine and affect our lives? What models of change should we choose and when? And, in the spirit of Paul Loeb and John Steinbeck, When if ever are we NOT responsible for one another? Here's the first assignment and "final" exam: Answer these questions-and the "so what?"
The working Thesis for this class is that for Art, or indeed anything/anyone, to effect change in a society the work/ideas must be palatable to the majority, real and tangible in terms of outcomes and sustainable over time. We never get far when we try to change using hate, anger, force or such "clubs."
This course is open to anyone intrigued with the questions raised by public Art (and possibilities of Art) in our society. This capstone should be of particular value and interest to students who have a desire to teach, create, work collaboratively and inspire. Students will develop Art Literacy lessons to teach/be taught in underprivileged public schools. A web site of these lessons will be created and published as a teacher resource. This course will require some flexibility on the part of the students when/if it comes to the scheduling of the Art Literacy lesson-teaching component.

CAP: ASSET MAPPING AND GIS
Empowering Communities with Asset Mapping and GIS
Meg Merrick, dkmm@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/gis-and-asset-mapping
This capstone is about empowering communities through the use of asset mapping techniques and geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Students will work with a community partner to identify community assets and assist them in the use of GIS and other technologies that can enable them to strategically set community agendas. Students will be trained in asset mapping techniques as well as geographic information systems. No experience is required. Additional time is required outside of classroom participation.

CAP: CAMP STARLIGHT
Camp Starlight
Vicki Reitenauer, vicvic@juno.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/camp-starlight
In this Capstone, students will serve as cabin counselors and activity specialists at Camp Starlight, a project of Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) that provides children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS with a week-long residential camping experience that is safe, accepting, and free of stigma. Students are required to attend several class sessions at PSU before camp (10:00-11:50 am on 8/9, 10, and 11); to be present full-time at camp from Saturday, 8/27 to Friday, 9/2; and to attend a final class session at PSU on Friday, 9/30, from 3:00-5:00 pm). In addition to the direct service students will provide at camp, students will also work in multi-disciplinary teams to complete one or more final products in collaboration with our community partner. For more information about this course, contact the instructor, Vicki Reitenauer, at vicr@pdx.edu.

CAP: COLLABORATIONS
Collaborations: Boys and Girls Club
Heather Petzold, petzoldh@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/collaborations-boys-and-girls
This course focuses on the importance of service learning in our community. As a class, we will have the opportunity to discover, evaluate, and reflect on the needs of our community by creating and facilitating educational workshops, mentoring, and exploring fundraising opportunities for the Boys and Girls Club. Students will learn respect for themselves and others as part of a community and will promote teamwork, leadership and problem solving skills. Community issues to be addressed include: listening, intercultural communication, leadership, mediation, and cooperative learning skills. Each student will have the opportunity to mentor at the club site (Meyers Boys and Girls Club) for a minimum of 20 hours for the term during hours of operation (2:30-7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday). As we are working with youth, students will need to pass a background check in order to fulfill the requirements of the course (to be completed on the first day of class). 

CAP: COMMUNITY GREENWORKS
Community Greenworks
Cynthia Gomez, gomezc@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/community-greenworks
This Capstone offers students an analysis of social justice; a framework that promotes successful civic engagement; and an application of these principles in community settings. Students choose from several projects that best fit interests, expertise and schedules, and complete team projects with community partners addressing a pre-determined need and promoting lasting chance in the community. Projects will focus on the three areas of sustainability: social equity, the economy, and the environment.

CAP: COSTA RICA CAPSTONE
Costa Rica Capstone
Jenna Padbury, padburyj@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/costa-rica
This capstone provides an opportunity to learn about Costa Rica through cultural immersion.  The course includes a 2 ½ week service-learning program in Turrialba, Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica, students will conduct service in community-based settings such as schools, orphanages, organic farms or social service agencies. We will take field trips to a number of sites designed to enhance your understanding of Costa Rican history and culture as well as current social, political, economic, and environmental issues. In addition, students will study Spanish and stay with host families. Students meet three times during the Spring term to prepare for the time in Costa Rica. *This Capstone is full for Summer 2011, but will be offered again in Summer 2012.

CAP: CREATING MUSEUM EXPERIENCES
Object Talks: Creating Meaningful Museum Experiences
Sarah Wolf-Newlands, newlands@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/creating-meaningful-museum-experiences
In addition to housing a substantial permanent collection, the Portland Art Museum regularly hosts traveling exhibitions. These range from exhibits of artwork from local collections to nationally and internationally recognized shows like "The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis" and "The Allure of the Automobile." Students in this course will work directly with the education staff at the museum designing and leading public tours for traveling exhibitions. Course participants will create interpretive materials and facilitate learning in the galleries.

CAP: DISABILITY & JUSTICE
Disability & Justice
Mary Oschwald, oschwald@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/disability-and-justice
The Disability and Justice Capstone course focuses on Disability and the human rights of people with disabilities.  Understanding Disability from a social justice model, rather than a medical or deficits model, reframes Disability as an interaction between people and their environment.  Student service learning will take place at the MacDonald Center, a long-time community partner that serves people with disabilities who are living in poverty. Service learning activities will include individual work and co-facilitation of therapeutic and educational groups. Capstone students will complete an oral history project where they will interview community members. Students may have the chance to publish these stories and interviews in the community-based newspaper, Street Roots.

CAP: DOCUMENTING SUSTAINABILITY
Documenting Sustainability in the Pacific Northwest
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/documenting-sustainable-business-pr...
Joshua Binus, binus@pdx.edu
In 1989, the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as "[development that] meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations." As the 21st century progresses, the concepts of sustainable development and sustainability have become increasingly complex. Partnering with Northwest History Network, this class will explore the idea of sustainability by looking at its historical meaning and documenting sustainable business and cultural practices in the Pacific Northwest through the medium of recorded interviews. The focus of the course will change each quarter and has in the past included the death care industry, ranching, logging, urban agriculture, and recycling.

CAP: ECODISTRICT
Communities and Resources of an EcoDistrict
Barry Messer, messerw@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/communities-and-resources-ecodistrict
The development of an EcoDistrict requires innovation in the way we configure our physical landscapes to maximize resource efficiency; this capstone examines the opportunities for communities to participate in and learn from creating the shape of their place.

CAP: EDIT/DESIGN DLNW OUTREACH
Edit/Design DLNW Documents for Organ Donor Outreach
Patrice Hudson, pjhudson@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/editdesign-dlnw-documents-organ-don...
Participants will learn about editing and designing small documents, and about Donate Life Northwest (DLNW), a nonprofit agency with the mission to save and enhance lives through the promotion of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Students will expand their understanding of small document design and learn to think more critically about design decisions and the basic principles of layout, typography, color usage, and space. Participants will bring knowledge of today's popular culture as well as knowledge from their own field of study, and integrate that knowledge with editing and design principles to produce documents for public outreach use by DLNW.

CAP: EFFECTING CHANGE
Effecting Change
Vicki Reitenauer, vicvic@juno.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/effecting-change
In this Capstone course, each student explores what it means to work for community change by engaging in a committed community service experience of at least 3 hours per week with a community partner of her/his choice and exploring the meaning that work has for the individual and for the community through reflection, dialogue, readings, activities, and collaborative projects. This course is intended to allow both students with longstanding volunteer commitments to continue those commitments in fulfillment of their Capstone requirement and students new to community service to explore how they might become affective agents for positive change in their communities.

CAP: ENVIRON ED NATV AMER LENS
Environmental Education through Native American Lenses
Judy BlueHorse Skelton, judybluehorse@comcast.net
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/environmental-education-through-nat...
"For millennia the world's Indigenous Peoples have acted as guardians of the web of life for the following seven generations. They have successfully managed complex reciprocal relationships between diverse biological ecosystems and multitudinous human cultures.  Awareness of Indigenous Knowledge is reemerging..."  Original Instructions: Indigenous Teachings for a Sustainable Future, 2008.
 
We will examine impacts of colonization on land management policies and the re-emergence of Indigenous practices with land, water, and food systems management. Revitalization of food sovereignty by reservation and urban Native American communities to reclaim health and address historical trauma will be central to student work.  In collaboration with Oregon tribal communities, students will participate in urban site assessment, design and implementation of edible and medicinal gardens. Permaculture principles and indigenous land ethics will guide our process.  During our time spent in class and outdoors in natural areas, we will explore relationship-building, creative place-based projects, and analysis of current issues facing Native American communities.

CAP: FOOD DEMOCRACY AND SUSTAIN
Food, Democracy and Sustainability
Lisa Weasel, lisaw@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/food-democracy-and-sustainability
In this capstone, students will consider and participate in promoting the concept of "food democracy" and the related intersections of social, political, ethical, and technoscientific values and practices related to the concept of food justice. Students will work with residents and staff at two Housing Authority of Clackamas County residence sites to develop food security projects such as community garden design and building; garden education; assessments and evaluations, and community-engaged research to identify and document program impacts. The class includes both classroom consideration of scholarship and best practices, as well as fieldwork with residents and staff at HACC facilities. Students should expect to commit 2-4 hours of hands-on outdoor experience beyond scheduled classroom time, to take place at garden locations in Milwaukie and Oregon City. 

CAP: GIRL POWER
Girl!power
Sally Eck, ecks@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/girl-power-%E2%80%93-women%E2%80%99...
In this course, we will be working with our community partner, the local non-profit feminist bookstore IN OTHER WORDS and their sister organization, The Women's Community Education Project.   Our project this term is to coordinate a series of *rap sessions* with local teen girls about current issues in their lives.   We will use these group conversations to encourage the girls to become a part of our ZINE project -- where they will write, edit, and publish a grassroots, mini-magazine with our class.   Please take a look at the enclosed outreach plan for more detailed objectives. In preparation for this project, we will read feminist scholarship about teenage girls as well as focus groups and zine publishing methodologies.

CAP: GIRL'S ROCK CAMP
Girl's Rock Camp
Molly Gray, mcg@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/girls-rock-camp-0
The Rock & Roll Camp for Girls is a local non-profit organization that works to build girls' self esteem through musical & performance mentorship as well as empowers/prepares young women of diverse backgrounds for leadership roles within their communities.  Students in this Capstone will examine contemporary social issues related to the lives of girls today, as well as participate in Rock Camp programming and other activities in support of the camp.

CAP: GRANTWRITING-CONDUIT DAN
Grantwriting for Nonprofits, Conduit Dance, Inc.
Judy Patton, pattonj@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/grantwriting-nonprofits
Students in this Capstone will partner with Conduit Dance, Inc. (http://www.conduit-pdx.org/). Since its inception in 1995, Conduit Dance has established itself as Portland's primary center of contemporary dance. With its three major thrusts of activity -- Creative Practice, Performance and Education -- Conduit greatly shapes regional dance by providing the space and the support necessary for dance artists to practice their art form. Class uses an experiential approach: that is, students learn to write compelling grants by engaging in the process of writing actual proposals to be used by Conduit in its pursuit of funding.

CAP: GRANTWRITING-GROUT ELEM
Grantwriting for Nonprofits, Grout Elementary School
Judy Patton, pattonj@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/grantwriting-nonprofits
Students in this Capstone will partner with Grout Elementary School in SE Portland (http://www.pps.k12.or.us/schools/grout/). Grout serves a highly diverse student population. Students will write proposals to fund special projects determined by Grout representatives and the class. Class uses an experiential approach: that is, students learn to write compelling grants by engaging in the process of writing actual proposals to be used by Grout Elementary in its pursuit of funding.

CAP: HOPE PARTNERSHIP
Hope Partnership Capstone
Deborah Smith Arthur, debs@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/hope-partnership
This Capstone partners with the Hope Partnership at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility (MYCF) in Woodburn, a facility of the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA).  In partnership with the OYA's Office of Minority Services Multicultural Leadership Program, the HP is designed to increase the rate of success among incarcerated juveniles through the arts, life skills, and the establishment of community support networks.  This summer, Capstone students will assist with the creation of a benefit cd, featuring the music of incarcerated youth.  Additionally, students will develop curriculum related to this project for incarcerated youth, highlighting the life skills and arts components of the project.  This is an eight week Capstone. It is a hybrid course with an online component; we will meet in person once a week. Most of these meetings will occur on the PSU Campus, but we may meet at MYCF in Woodburn several times.  We will encourage and facilitate carpooling from campus.  Community based learning outside of class time will include two Saturday evening meetings (5-7) at MYCF.  Required texts may include: Ayers, William A Kind and Just Parent Beacon Press 1997; Zehr, Howard The Little Book of Restorative Justice Good Books 2002; Loeb, Paul The Impossible Will Take a Little While Basic Books, 2004.  Please contact the instructor upon registration for further information, at debs@pdx.edu.

CAP: IMMIGRATION & WORKFORCE
Immigation & Workforce
Andy Reed, andy47223@gmail.com
http://www.pdx.edu/unst/capstone-courses-summer-term-2010
Immigration in the Workforce is a Senior Capstone focusing on immigration, sociocultural behavior, and workforce development. Students will assist a non-profit workforce development agency called Human Solutions.  Outside of class, students will tutor or teach ESL or  workforce development classes, or conduct other projects to assist immigrants as they transition to life in the United States.

CAP: JUVENILE JUSTICE
Juvenile Justice
Deborah Smith Arthur, debs@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/juvenile-justice
This Capstone partners with the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice, Juvenile Services Division.  Through your work in the community, as well as through supportive academic activities, you will have the opportunity to deeply explore current issues in juvenile justice.  Successful background checks are required for participation in this Capstone. This is a hybrid (partially online) course. Please contact the instructor at debs@pdx.edu upon registration to receive important information about background checks.

CAP: LEARNING FROM PERSONS
Learning From Persons
Ann Fullerton, mhkc@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/learning-persons-disabilities
For Sections OU1-OU4 (of UNST 421)
Interested students must call (503) 725-3380 or go to http://www.pdx.edu/sped/kiwanis as soon as possible to apply. Students must have instructor approval to enroll. This course spans spring and summer terms and grades are posted in summer term. Seniors graduating in spring term cannot include this course in their degree coursework because it is not graded until summer term. Students attend all-day class at PSU on a Saturday in May from 9am to 4pm and then spend two weeks living at the campsite with a weekend break. Meals and lodging provided. Students can register for this class in either the spring or summer terms.

CAP: LEARNING GARDEN & CIV AFF
Learning Gardens and Civic Affairs
Stephanie Stokamer, kerrigs@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/learning-gardens-and-civic-affairs
Students in this Capstone will work with the Learning Gardens Laboratory that serves the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood in SE Portland. Class time will focus on issues of food security and community involvement in civic affairs. Students will tend the garden and develop materials or conduct research to assist in the promotion, understanding and management of the garden. Some scheduled class meetings will take place off campus at the Learning Gardens, so please schedule accordingly. Some physical outdoor work and additional service time outside of class will be required.

CAP: LINK GENERATION: COMM & AGING
Linking the Generations, Communication, Aging and Society
Cindy Koonz, teachcin16@hotmail.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/linking-generations-communication-a...
Students will engage with older adults to complete a variety of life history projects. Students will address their assumptions and stereotypes toward the aging population and will reflect upon personal barriers and successes in the intergenerational communication process. Communication issues will be addressed in the areas of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intercultural communication. In addition to the community work, the course will focus on interdisciplinary discussions, lectures, and activities to increase awareness of the older population. This is an evening course with travel to off campus site and a background check required. Fingerprinting also may be required. Contact instructor upon registration to complete paperwork prior to start date. Processing can delay work in the community.

CAP: MARKETING FOR NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Marketing for Non-Profit Organizations
JoAnn Siebe, siebefj@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/social-business-marketing-%E2%80%93...
During this Capstone, PSU students will work with the Community Partner, Kalakendra Society for the Perfoming Arts of India, as a marketing resource team to promote their events and programs. 
Kalakendra, is a nonprofit organization formed in 1987.  Kalakendra's mission is to introduce, promote and enhance awareness of the various performing arts of the Indian subcontinent, i.e., India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and culturally cognate countries through presenting concerts, classical dances, recitals, and lecture-demonstrations.
During class sessions students will examine literature, film and other resources that speak to different aspects of marketing for non-profit organizations.  They will expand their understanding of customer-centered marketing and the "Eight P's" of social marketing.  Participants will bring knowledge from their own field of study, integrate marketing principles, and support the success of Kalakendra events and programs.

CAP: MEDIA LITERACY
Media Literacy
Mark Oldani, oldani@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/media-literacy
Media literacy is the study of the impact that various mediums have on the information that is being transmitted. Class participants will learn about the impact of commercial/popular media on themselves and their community and develop various approaches to address the impact of media on their community. Class members will work directly with teachers and students by planning and presenting lessons in a middle or high school classroom.  The community based learning will, in all likely hood, occur outside of class time.

CAP: MEDIEVAL PORTLAND
Medieval Portland
Anne McClanan, anne@pdx.edu
Medieval Portland is a partially on-line capstone dedicated to researching and spreading the understanding of real medieval objects housed in Portland area collections. The focus this summer will be to research and produce support materials on medieval art at the Portland Art Museum and the Portland State Library Special Collections, and then to use this research as the foundation for making podcasts to teach about these artworks. We will investigate issues such as artistic technique, the history of collecting, and the religious and cultural meanings of these works. Please note that you will need to be available to meet with you team members in person to produce the podcasts. No background in art history is needed, but strong research and writing skills are a must. After registering for the class, please contact the instructor to set up an appointment.

CAP: MEDITATION FOR GLOBAL HEALING
Meditation For Global Healing
Julie Porter, jpqi@me.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/grantwriting-nonprofits
Qigong is an ancient Chinese meditative healing practice that encompasses a philosophy of living with a quiet mind, open heart, and in service to others.  This capstone provides an opportunity to explore the personal and community implications of this healing practice and mindfulness meditation. You will learn meditation forms and their underlying philosophies while exploring the concept of personal awareness and social responsibility. Working with a community partner gives you the chance to be of service to others and learn about their needs in the context of the course material.

CAP: MIGRANT CHILDREN
Migrant Children
Sam Gioia, gioia@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/global-pdx-migrant-children
This capstone supports a summer academic program sponsored by Beaverton School District.  Capstone students will assist in a classroom one day a week (M-Th) between June 27 and July 28 from 8:30am to 2pm.  They will work with certified teachers on classes for English Language Development and credit recovery for high school aged youth from migrant families.  The PSU class meetings will be once a week with extensive use of online discussion boards.  Our class time will address historical, cultural, academic, and linguistic issues affecting Latino youth.  Students must attend a pre-service orientation on June 24 and be prepared to tutor through the end of July.   This capstone does not require Spanish language proficiency.  It is excellent preparation for pre-education students as well as students studying social work, child and family studies, psychology, sociology and other majors.

CAP: MUSEUM OF THE CITY
Museum of the City
Chet Orloff, chetorloff@msn.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/museum-city
The Museum of the City is a virtual museum of cities.  A museum currently being created for PSU that students will help operate, its mission is to inform visitors about the design and development of cities past, present, and future.  It also shares the University's mission:  “Let Knowledge Serve the City.”  Students in the class will be associate curators, helping create exhibits and social-media content for the electronic galleries of the Museum.  While headquartered at PSU, the Museum of the City is an international project, working with partners in over 20 countries worldwide.
 
CAP: MUSIC IN SCHOOLS
Music in the Schools
Susan Booth Larson, susanblarson@gmail.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/music-schools
The Music in the Schools capstone introduces elementary aged children involved in SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) programs to musical games, concepts, instruments, and songs from various cultures around the world.  Basic educational teaching strategies, child development concepts, and pedagogical techniques are developed and then translated by PSU students into fun, interactive lessons that, hopefully, will inspire the children, themselves representing various cultures, to go further into learning about music.  The AM class works at the SUN program based at Alice Ott Middle School and the PM class works at the SUN program based at Grout Elementary School.  Some additional time outside of class hours will be scheduled according to the PSU students' schedules and individual areas of interest.

CAP: NATURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Nature in the Neighborhood
Mitch Cruzan, cruzan@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/nature-neighborhood
The Nature in the Neighborhood (NITN) project grew out of the needs expressed by PSU students who desired avenues of involvement in local environmental issues, and the needs of local resource management agencies (THPRD, METRO, Portland Parks) that lacked resources to develop inventories and surveys of natural resources in the Portland area. This summer this capstone has be redesigned to serve majors in Biology and ESR. The course content and goals will assume students have an adequate background in ecology. In collaboration with METRO, we will focus our efforts this summer on work with Metro to evaluate factors promoting the spread of invasive false brome, and its impact on native plant communities. We will be developing research questions, designing data collection protocols, contributing to ongoing site monitoring, collecting and analyzing data, and writing final reports on our findings. To accomplish the broader goals of this project we will be forming multiple working groups, the number of which will depend to some degree on the interests and goals of participants in this capstone.

CAP: NAT FOOD INDUSTRY
The Natural Food Industry and the Cooperative Business Model
Pedro Ferbel-Azcarate, pferbel@yahoo.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/natural-food-industry-and-cooperati...
This Capstone will provide an orientation to the cooperative business model and the natural food industry. Students will gain hands on experience working with the community partner, People's Food Cooperative, on various food system related inquiries and will address different business strategies in the natural food industry and for cooperative businesses, specifically, and make the connection to broader themes including health and nutrition, food security and food politics, environmental sustainability, urban design, and community development.

CAP: NATIVE AMERICAN LEARN GARDENS
Learning Gardens and Civic Affairs
Judy BlueHorse Skelton, judybluehorse@comcast.net
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/learning-gardens-and-civic-affairs
In this Capstone, we will work with the Learning Gardens Laboratory that serves the Brentwood-Darlington neighborhood in SE Portland. Class time will focus on issues of food security and community involvement in civic affairs. We will participate in hands-on gardening activities, and develop materials or conduct research to assist in the promotion, understanding and management of the garden. Some scheduled class meetings will take place off campus at the Learning Gardens, so please schedule accordingly. Some physical outdoor work and additional service time outside of class is required. Students fluent in Russian, Spanish, or Vietnamese are encouraged to join the course.

CAP: NATIVE AMER GRNT WRTG CAP
Grantwriting for Sustainability
Beth (Dillon) Lameman, beth@bethaileen.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/reflections/grant-writing-native-american-preservation-0
Students in this capstone will write a grant to support the operations of a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable practices.  You should expect to gain valuable experience with the grant writing process and to produce a "living grant" that you can include in a career development portfolio.
We will have several partners, each with multiple grant writing needs. You can work independently on a single project, or you can team up. All instruction is online, so your time is free to work at your own pace and to meet your community partners occasionally at mutually convenient times. Please contact Andie Karinen at karinena@pdx.edu to register.

CAP: NEIGH WATERSHEDS
Neighborhoods and Watersheds
W. Barry Messer, messerw@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/neighborhoods-and-watersheds
This course is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about and become involved in improving watersheds in urban communities.  Students will be introduced to basic concepts and practices related to urban watershed protection and conservation.  Students will then directly participate in a community watershed project that will provide a base of experience for furthering the learning and appreciation for the work that goes into maintaining urban watershed health. This Capstone is part of the Community Watershed Stewardship Program, a partnership between PSU and the Bureau of Environmental Services, City of Portland. A main project for the capstone involves the organization of projects and design options for "greening" the PSU campus.  In addition, students will work on a neighborhood watershed enhancement project with a community partner.   Students will be expected to schedule time working with the community partner outside of class hours.  The amount of time working on the field projects on the PSU campus and in the community will be an average of approximately 6-8 hours/week over the term.  The schedule for field project will be decided between the students and the community partner

CAP: PERFORM ARTS ADVOCACY
Performing Arts Advocacy
Suzanne Savaria, savaria@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/performing-arts-understanding-advocacy
Speaking about and advocating for the performing arts is possible for everyone. This course will give you a general working knowledge of the history of classical music, drama and dance, as well as examine the local organizations who bring these arts to audiences in the Portland area. We will look at the role of arts education and the responsibility of advocating for and supporting the arts.  You will gain hands on experience in the business of putting on a performance and sustaining artistic organizations through volunteer time at local performing arts organizations. Through interviews, reflection and research, you will create a final project and present to a panel of local business people with recommendations for effective and continued advocacy of the arts.

CAP: PORTLAND'S WATER
Portland's Water
Catherine Howells, chowells@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/portlands-water-history-and-challenges
Our community partner for this class is the Portland Water Bureau. This class will focus on the Bull Run watershed (the source of Portland's drinking water) and the workings of the Portland Water Bureau.  We will research the history of the water system, water quality, current issues, and other topics that peak our interest during the term.  The class will work with the Water Bureau to develop community outreach products.

CAP: PUBLIC RELATIONS
Public Relations for Nonprofits
Walt Amacher, wseditor@aol.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/public-relations-nonprofits
In recognition of the need for governmental agencies and nonprofits to access their constituency, this Capstone provides communications training for a selected organization including the following: formation of an organizational communications program, creation of informational and promotional materials, and practical experience in working with the media. Students will learn basic communication theory and apply it to an organization. In addition to textbook materials and class presentations, this course may include guest speakers and field trips to media outlets.

 CAP: RESEARCH EXPER SCI
Research Experiences in Science
Erik Bodegom, bodegom@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/research-experience-science-majors
The purpose of this Senior Capstone will be to provide linkages between the student's academic training in the sciences, specifically in physics and the application of this knowledge in the broader community. In particular, students will obtain experience in solving real life problems as future scientists and educated citizens. Through an initial phase the students will be educated as to the expectations of the proper methods to solve issues presented by our community partners. This initial phase will focus on presentation, documentation, and ethics expected by the community partners and the broader scientific community.

CAP: RESEARCH & SOCIETY
Research and Society
Mitch Cruzan, cruzan@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/research-and-society
Are you a Science Major thinking of applying to graduate school?
Complete your senior capstone and develop you post-graduate plans in one course!
This capstone will enable students to translate their experiences and knowledge with science to the public through engagement with local education organizations and museums.

CAP: SEXUAL & GENDER MIN YOUTH
Sexual & Gender Minority Youth
Molly Gray, mcg@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/sexual-and-gender-minority-youth
It is estimated that 1 in 10 individuals identify as a sexual minority. Often an already challenging stage in identity development, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & questioning (LGBTQ) youth face a set of issues unique to their daily lives. We examine the paths sexual and gender minority youth navigate in society, exploring such questions as: What challenges do LGBTQ youth encounter? How do they cope, survive, find understanding & celebrate themselves amidst homophobia and intolerance? How do LGBTQ experiences vary across difference such as race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender and expression? Has the growing strength of political mobilization and visibility of LGBTQ issues affected and/or included the needs of youth? How can youth needs be brokered by social services, families, and the community at large? Our community partner will be the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC).

CAP: SEXUAL ASSAULT
Sexual Assault on the College Campus
Eden Isenstein, eni@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/sexual-assault-education-theater
Students in this class will work with the Portland State University Women's Resource Center and their community partners to combat sexual assault. The class will work in teams on projects such as, research, awareness raising/prevention, direct action, and fundraising. Lecture and discussion topics are from a multidisciplinary approach including, advocacy, medical system, criminal justice system, offender management, community response, higher education, and more. By the end of the term students will be able to articulate the definitions and dynamics of sexual violence as well as current issues in the field. Students will also have gained experience and understanding in what it takes to respond to and prevent sexual assault.

CAP: SKILLS FOR BEING AN EFFECTIVE COLLABORATOR
Skills For Being an Effective Collaborator
Mari Saint-Pierre, msaintpierre@clear.net
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/skills-being-effective-collaborator
The ability to collaborate is increasingly recognized as an essential professional and personal skill. In addition, solutions to some of the most critical and pressing issues confronting our communities are only possible when diverse stakeholders are able to come to together to collaborate.  Students will have the chance to further deepen their knowledge and enhance their skills in collaboration as they work in teams to study a specific case where a collaborative approach was used to solve a community problem. This term, students will take a field trip to southern Oregon to interview stakeholders involved in a multi-sector collaborative project facilitated by the National Policy Consensus Center at Portland State University to develop an alternate energy source (a biomass facility) for the region.

CAP: STREET ROOTS
Street Roots: Exploring Issues of Homelessness
Colleen Kaleda, kaleda@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/street-roots-exploring-issues-homelessness
This course will explore and expose various issues surrounding poverty and homelessness through direct contact with non-profits, businesses, government and the homeless community. Students will research, write and photograph stories for publication in Street Roots, Portland's homeless newspaper. Specific topics will be tailored to student interest and developed in conjunction with the Editor-in-Chief of Street Roots. Subjects may include economic/business impact; social and cultural impacts; mental health; hunger; unemployment; and impacts on women and children.

CAP: SUMMER YOUTH ENRICHMENT
Summer Youth Enrichment: Bridging the Achievement Gap
Zapoura Newton-Calvert, zapoura@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/urban-day-camp
Since the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, the ?achievement gap? has been at the forefront of discussions about school equity.  A significant contributor to the achievement gap is the summer learning gap.  According to researchers on the subject, "Achievement gaps by family socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity widen more during the summer months than during the school year" (Alexander, Entwisle, and Olson 1).  This is often due to the lack of academic enrichment activities available to students in these demographics.  A recent (2007) study by the Nellie Mae Foundation indicates that building on existing networks, for example the Capstone service learning network, is one of the best ways to support summer learning programs and to close this gap (Miller 28).  "Summer Youth Enrichment: Bridging the Achievement Gap" is designed as a partnership between PSU and various Portland summer programs for youth (partners have included the Portland Parks and Recreation Urban Day Camp and the Portland Schools Foundation 9th Grade Counts Program).  Capstone students in this partnership will work with community partners as tutors, mentors, and leaders within summer educational enrichment settings.

CAP: SUS FOOD SYSTEM & ED FARM
Sustainable Food Systems and Educational Farms
Megan Hubbs, greenfarmmama@gmail.com
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/sustainable-food-systems-and-educat...
The time is ripe to be part of the growing sustainable food movement!  This class addresses the current food issues that face urban citizens by holistically engaging students in the many layers of Portland's local food and farm culture.  Students will critically analyze the state of our current food systems while being engaged in positive solutions to agricultural-related issues. The community partner and classroom is the Learning Gardens Lab, where students will gain hands-on farming experience, experientially explore their personal connection to food and the land, participate in the Learning Garden programs, and positively contribute to food security in our greater community.  Students will also build relationships within the local food network through flied trip experiences.  (*Due to the nature of this course, it will be held at Learning Gardens Lab [SE 60th Ave & Duke] with the exception of the first class, which will be held at the designated PSU classroom.)

CAP: SUSTAINABILITY OUTDOORS
Communicating Sustainability Through the Forest
Stephanie Wagner, stephanie@tryonfriends.org
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/interpretation-sustainability
Spend your summer at Tryon Creek State Park, located just 15 minutes from PSU.  Learn to effectively communicate ideas and issues surrounding sustainability. Experts from a variety of sustainability fields share their experiences.  Course participants use this information to create informative, engaging programs for park visitors.  Student learning will benefit from discussion, team work and interactive explorations.  This class meets Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 - 4:00 pm at the Tryon Creek Nature Center.  More information is available at www.tryonfriends.org.

CAP: TUTORING ADULT ESL
Tutoring Adult ESL at Portland Community College
Michelle Culley, mculley@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/tutoring-adult-esl-portland-communi...
Capstone students will tutor adult English as a Second Language learners for 2 - 3 hours a week in local Community College ESL classes. Capstone students must be proficient speakers of English. Students must contact Michelle Culley prior to registration. Tutoring times vary, please contact Michelle for specifics. In addition, all capstone students will meet from 12:45-15:45 every Wednesday on the PSU campus for coursework on ESL strategies and immigration issues.

CAP: TUTORING & MENTORING NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH
Tutoring & Mentoring Native American Youth
Annmarie Trimble, atrimble@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/tutoring-mentoring-native-american-...
This capstone course works with the Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA) to help fulfill its mission of empowering youth via education, community involvement, and cultural programming by creating positive learning experiences. Capstone students will learn and practice tutoring and mentoring high school students as part of NAYA's High School Summer Institute. Capstone students will support NAYA youth in learning various academic disciplines (with a strong emphasis in math and language arts), and possibly attend field trips and participate in recreational activities. No previous tutoring or mentoring experience is needed, and the course is open to all majors. After initial training, PSU students will meet weekly at NAYA  (see www.nayapdx.org for location) to work with the Summer Institute teachers, youth advocates, and volunteers. Training activities will include tutoring training, as well as discussions on readings exploring Native American culture, educational issues, and service learning. Individual writing assignments include personal reflective projects, a final reflective narrative, and possibly some research to help NAYA staff  develop curriculum. A background check is required of all students in this Capstone. Transportation notice: Students will be responsible for their own transportation to and from NAYA. Public transport is available.

CAP: VOLUNTEER STREAM MONITORING
Quality Assurance for Volunteer Stream Monitoring
Mary Ann Schmidt, maryanns@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/quality-assurance-volunteer-stream-...
Capstone students will coordinate and implement all aspects of the quality assurance project plan (QAPP) for the Student Watershed Research Project (SWRP)'s volunteer monitoring program.  Students will work as a team to ensure data quality for the 25 high school groups involved in SWRP. Non-science majors encouraged to become "citizen scientists" through their participation in this capstone.  

This project requires training, classroom, and field support. This course will integrate chemical, biological and physical watershed analysis skills. In addition, students will be responsible for verifying macroinvertebrate and plant samples, performing field/lab analysis of duplicate water quality samples, and mathematically determining whether the accuracy and precision goals of the QAPP are being met.  Students will also be responsible for data management, auditing of student data, providing feedback to data collectors, and evaluating the impact of SWRP on participating students. Spring Capstone Students will support the Annual Student Watershed Summit, where the high school students give both oral and poster presentations on their research projects

CAP: WASTE REDUCTION RECYCLING
Solid Waste Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling
Shanna Eller, ellers@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/solid-waste-reduction-reuse-and-rec...
This Capstone partners with public and private organizations in the Portland Metropolitan Region to increase solid waste reduction, reuse, and recycling through community research, education, and outreach.  Capstone students may be involved in activities ranging from designing resources to educate residents, to assisting business meet the requirements for mandatory business recycling, to researching how to reduce waste, increase recycling, and implement composting at public events.

CAP: WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT IN CHIAPAS MEXICO
Women and Development in Chiapas, Mexico
Pat Rumer, rumer@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/women-and-development-community-bas...
Chiapas is the poorest and least educated state in the Mexican republic but also one of the richest in natural resources. About one quarter of the population is of full or predominant Maya descent, and in rural areas many do not speak Spanish. The state suffers from the highest rate of malnutrition in Mexico, estimated to affect more than 40% of the population. Migration north from Chiapas has increased the past ten years and researchers now estimate that one out of ten persons lives either in the USA or on the northern Mexican border - the state has only 4% of Mexico's total population.

Students will spend two weeks in an immersion learning experience with women's community-based economic development projects in the San Cristobal de las Casas region. Through interactions with non-governmental organizations, Mexican government representatives, local researchers, and community leaders participants will learn how indigenous women are developing their own economic alternatives and how these collaborative efforts relate to the national and global economy. Click here for the Informational Flyer

Applications & information available on-line at: http://oia.pdx.edu/ea/
E-mail: rumer@pdx.edu, edabroad@pdx.edu

Application Deadline: 4/8/11

CAP: WOMEN'S PRISON GARDENS
Women's Prison Gardens
Debbie Rutt, debrutt@pdx.edu
http://capstone.unst.pdx.edu/courses/effecting-change
Students in this Capstone will review, research and reflect on the impact of the incarceration of women, the unique needs of female inmates and the diversity of individuals in correctional facilities through structured activities, readings, video, dialogue and reflective writing. Through the study of existing prison garden programs, students will develop a model for a garden program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) and identify available resources and potential community partners. Working in teams, students will create a presentation on one aspect of a prison garden program.  Class time will focus on issues affecting incarcerated women, the larger prison system, and prison gardens as a tool for healing and change for female inmates.
Students will have the option of visiting the prison garden with instructors outside of scheduled class time. The facility is 20 minutes from Portland and carpooling will be available. Any student wishing to visit or volunteer in the garden will be required to complete a Department of Corrections background check during the first week of class. Garden visitation is not a requirement of the course. Students choosing not to visit the prison garden will be asked to complete other service work related to the class topic.