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Boston, MA
Affordable Lifelines: Exploring Boston’s Adaptable Approach to Improving Healthcare Equity
44% of Americans struggle to pay for healthcare. Yet, healthcare disparity is experienced differently across states. Many states are unable to effectively leverage public policy and medical institutions into a holistic system. Ineffective collaboration between various sectors have hindered progress towards equitable healthcare access. In contrast, Massachusetts has recently consistently ranked in the top three based on 58 measures of health equity from affordability to women’s health. Join us in Boston (and Massachusetts rural areas) to explore, learn, and volunteer with the uniquely successful coalition of hospitals, non-profits, politicians, and academics that are continuously improving the Massachusetts healthcare landscape.
New York City, NY
Concrete Jungle Where Dreams are Made Of: Education Inequality in NYC
The infamous line from the Jay-Z and Alicia Keys anthem, Empire State of Mind (♫ In New York, Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of ♫) gives perhaps too hopeful of a lens for a place that provides opportunities to achieve more. At least when it comes to education, it’s a lot trickier than it sounds. The New York City Public Schools are one of the most diverse, yet the most segregated school districts in the nation. How did this happen? In this class, we will study the state of educational inequality in NYC, the factors that contribute to it, and where we can go from here.
New York City, NY
The Present and Future of Sustainability in U.S. Public Transit
How and why do governments decide to build public transportation? What factors make a public transit system sustainable? What technologies could make public transit projects carbon-free? Come to New York City and engage with organizations working towards a more equitable, affordable, and sustainable future for public transit in the nation’s largest city. Along the way, we’ll discuss policy and engineering case studies from across the U.S. while involving students in hands-on activities reflecting on public transportation within their local contexts. Our hope is that every student, regardless of major, will see the unique role they can play in the future of U.S. public transportation.
New Orleans, LA
The Big Easy’s Response: Sustaining Culture and Community in a Changing Climate
What does sustainability look like as a community practice, and how does that influence our definitions of environmental justice and urban resilience? Through this course and trip, we will examine how New Orleans, Louisiana is pioneering community resilience as preparation for increased disaster risk and sea level rise. Join us as we engage with community members who are organizing in the face of an uncertain climate future. We’ll explore the effects of climate change on agriculture, food security, the petrochemical industry, flood risks, and other local symptoms of unmitigated fossil fuel emissions.
Anchorage, AK
Affordable Real Estate & Legal Access in Anchorage, AK
Anchorage, like many urban centers in the United States, faces housing affordability and shortages that have only deepened during the pandemic. It also poses unique issues such as exposure to cold and lack of funding, making it one of the city's most complex challenges. What policies, community advocacy, and community efforts can help amend this growing problem? Through our one-unit Winter Quarter class and our trip to Anchorage, Alaska, we will engage with issues disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, such as housing attainment and how legal representations intersects with race, gender, sexuality, disability, and more.
Bay Area &
Los Angeles, CA
Kababayan Ko: Pilipinx Issues
Searching for a place where you can explore and embrace Pilipino culture and Heritage in the Bay Area and Los Angeles? Join us for a quarter of reflecting on the history of the Philippines and exploring the effects of the Pilipino Diaspora on our lives. Learn how colonial history has shaped the Philippines development and modern attitudes. This is an opportunity for everyone to delve deeper into the past to understand the country’s growth and policies. For our trip, we’ll be touring the Bay Area and LA and exploring to discover local organizations that celebrate Pilipino culture and have revolutionized Pilipino advocacy.
Central California, CA
Farmworker & Immigrant Health
How has the history of U.S. immigration shaped the current landscape of healthcare for immigrants and farmworkers? What are the policy implications to mitigate healthcare disparities? How can we address the intersectionality of challenges faced by immigrants including issues of legal status, race, and gender with healthcare access? Explore the Bay Area with us through engaging with clinics, non-profits, and grassroot organizations that aim to improve healthcare access and social determinants of health and listen to case studies and firsthand experiences from immigrant and farmworker communities. We are excited to learn about creating an equitable healthcare system for all!