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Introduction to the Social Change Ecosystem
Posted by anne.grey | Start the discussion
Presenters: Hannah Cherry, Ari Petrides, Taryn Oakley, and Catherine Thomas.
Summary
In this presentation, participants are introduced to the Social Change Ecosystem as a framework for understanding how people contribute to community engagement and social change. The session connects this framework with Community-Based Learning at PCC, which combines reciprocal partnerships, community engagement, and critical reflection with course and institutional learning outcomes.
The Social Change Ecosystem encourages participants to begin by identifying the values that guide their work and the changes they hope to support. From there, they consider the people, organizations, communities, and relationships that make up their larger ecosystem. This approach helps shift social change away from the idea that one person must do everything and toward an understanding that different people contribute in different ways.
The framework identifies several possible roles, including Guides, Builders, Weavers, Disruptors, Healers, Caregivers, Experimenters, Storytellers, Frontline Responders, and Visionaries. Each role brings different strengths and needs. A person’s role may also change depending on the situation, their position within a community, and what the larger ecosystem needs at a particular time.
Participants use reflection activities to consider which roles align with their skills, lived experiences, knowledge, interests, and values. They also examine where they may need support from others and how people with different strengths can work together. The session connects these ideas to belonging, solidarity, and the creation of transformative learning experiences for students and communities.
The presentation closes with practical ways faculty can continue this work through Community-Based Learning. Opportunities include connecting with CBL faculty coordinators, registering courses with CBL, participating in professional learning communities, and exploring curriculum development and community-engaged learning opportunities.
Presentation Outcomes
- Explain the Social Change Ecosystem as a framework for community engagement, connection, and social change.
- Develop shared terminology for discussing social change and the different ways people contribute to collective efforts.
- Identify roles within the Social Change Ecosystem, including Guides, Builders, Weavers, Disruptors, Healers, Caregivers, Experimenters, Storytellers, Frontline Responders, and Visionaries.
- Reflect on personal values, strengths, lived experiences, knowledge, and interests to identify roles that may be a good fit within a particular ecosystem.
- Recognize that social change roles can shift over time depending on context, positionality, community needs, and available support.
- Map relationships within an ecosystem and consider how people with different roles and strengths can build solidarity and support one another.
- Connect the Social Change Ecosystem with Community-Based Learning and consider how it can support transformative learning experiences for students and communities.
- Identify PCC Community-Based Learning opportunities and resources that can support community-engaged curriculum development.
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