Strategies for Civic Engagement
This Praxis Lab immersed students in the realities of civic engagement through direct action and critical analysis. The course culminated in a trip to New Orleans, where 19 students worked on house demolition in the hurricane-ravaged 8th and 9th Wards. However, the experience extended beyond physical labor—it served as a hands-on exploration of the economic, political, social, and health challenges that arise in the wake of natural disasters.
Students gained firsthand insight into disaster response, recovery, and the broader implications of civic responsibility. Their final report reflects on these experiences and offers strategies for meaningful community engagement.
More Praxis Labs
Infectious Disease on the Run
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
This Praxis Lab examined the history, science, and ethical implications of pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19. Students analyzed how diseases spread, the social and political responses to outbreaks, and the ethical considerations of public health interventions.
How We Die
Margaret P. Battin, PhD
This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.
Education, Incarceration & Justice: Punishment and Opportunity in an Era of Mass Imprisonment
Erin Castro
Roberto Garcia
This Praxis Lab examined the deep connections between education, incarceration, and justice in the United States, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students explored the historical and systemic forces that have expanded the carceral state, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.