Become a Student Educator
The PCC Illumination Project is seeking students to participate in our social change theater program during the 2008-2009 academic year. The Illumination Project is an exciting program based at the PCC Sylvania campus. The program is designed to address issues of oppression including racism, sexism, heterosexism, and classism through classroom and community presentations utilizing interactive theater.
Students as Educators
The Illumination Project is a 3 term Sociology Course: SOC 214A, 214B and 214C.
The Illumination Project admits 20 students each year. Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential and an interest in exploring issues related to oppression and social responsibility. The process encourages a diverse group of students to participate. The program is rigorous, expectations are high, and as a result the rewards for Student Educators are limitless.
The Illumination Project Student Educators enter a program of leadership development; learning conflict resolution and communication skill building. By the time performances begin student educators are prepared to provide education and leadership around difficult and potentially emotional issues.
The plays produced by IP are derived from situations the Student Educators have experienced in their own lives. In this way, the process and performances are always kept real. By using student developed interactive theater the Illumination Project takes Student Educators and the audience out of the passive role and places them in an active thinking mode.
Program Commitment
To Be Eligible you need to commit to a three term process that includes:
- Fall Term:
- We will be starting in the middle of the term with class beginning on November 3rd Class time is on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 2:50 pm. There will also be a mandatory retreat weekend on November 7th, 8th and 9th.
- Winter and Spring Term:
- Five to seven hours a week that includes class time, homework and theater presentations to classrooms around the Sylvania campus, other PCC campuses and community organizations. Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00pm−2:50pm.
Students in the Program Receive
Four Sociology credits each term. All Illumination Project credits are tuition free, sociology, meet general education and diversity requirements and are college transferable. In all students receive 12 tuition free credits.
How to apply
Limited
space is available in the program so we encourage you to start the application process
immediately. Download an application for the Illumination
Project, or pick one up in the Women’s Resource Center CC 273, the Multicultural Center
CC 202 and in CC272.
Early Application deadline is Friday June 6, 2008 (you will be able to find out by the end of spring term whether or not you are accepted into the program). Regular application deadline is Wednesday October 19, 2008.
Contact program coordinator Jeannie LaFrance, 503-977-8149 for more information.
"When I first entered IP I was unclear on how this class and the plays could teach me about oppression, since as a woman of color I live this life everyday. I was wrong what I didn’t realize was for the first time I would see how good the world could be without shame.
The IP creates a classroom that is truly "hate free". To say that The Illumination Project has changed me is an understatement. In truth seeing my community work together to end racism and domestic and sexual violence has changed me.
The Illumination Project has allowed me to learn with my brain and act with my heart. I am privileged that I was part of a group that can confidently say we are more enlightened today and we have created and will continue to create positive social change."
-Erin-Aja Grant, IP Student Educator