Question

social justice action plan
ms. shione
an action plan is a proposed course, strategy, or action to help alleviate/fix/approach an issue. in your case, from the topics covered in class, choose a specific issue (choosing to fix racism might be a bit of a stretch):

• globalization
• aboriginal people and the law
• racism (police brutality)
• womens rights
• lgbtq+

for example: advocating for intersectional environmentalism: spreading awareness and education to youth at soss.
or: contributing to the efforts made by sowins (south okanagan women in need society): collecting female sanitary products to donate to women in transition houses.

an action plan
-create an independent presentation to outline your action plan: this plan needs to be realistic.
-address the following concerns in your presentation:

the need: this part needs to show some research. it is not enough to show that many women in bc experience domestic violence. you need to be specific (stats etc)
beliefs: an explanation of your beliefs that led to this project.
social justice vs. charity: make sure part of your project is a path to social justice (unless it is dealing with an immediate need after a disaster). if you are raising money for a ngo be sure to make a wise choice using websites such as charityintelligence.ca and defend your choice.
the goal: make sure you use s.m.a.r.t. goals.
the plan: include expected challenges, a timeline, etc.
change made: current social justice movements/organizations, education, protests, money raised, etc.
future application: what more you would like to do in the future.
success of project: conclusion

the purpose of this project is not to be an end to this course, but rather a beginning of your life in which awareness, education, critical questioning, and your voice and actions play a part.
presentation: your project may include videos, testimonials, surveys, etc. it can be no longer than 15 minutes.

Explanation:

Analyze assignment requirements

This assignment is a "Social Justice Action Plan" worksheet. It asks the student to choose a specific social justice issue from a list (such as Globalization, Aboriginal People and the Law, Racism, Women's Rights, or LGBTQ+) and design a realistic action plan presentation. The handwritten note next to "Racism" indicates the chosen topic is "Police violence / Police brutality".

Outline presentation components

To complete this project successfully, the presentation must address the following key sections outlined in the prompt:

1. The Need: Research-backed evidence and specific statistics regarding the chosen issue (police brutality).
2. Beliefs: Personal values and motivations driving the project.
3. Social Justice vs. Charity: A clear path toward systemic change rather than just short-term aid.
4. The Goal: A S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal.
5. The Plan: A realistic timeline and expected challenges.
6. Change Made: Educational efforts, protests, or awareness campaigns.
7. Future Application: Long-term goals and next steps.
8. Success of Project: A concluding reflection.

Draft a sample action plan

Let's structure a comprehensive guide to help the student build their presentation on "Police Brutality and Reform."

• The Need: Focus on statistics regarding racial disparities in law enforcement interactions and use of force.
• Beliefs: Emphasize the belief in equal protection under the law and human dignity.
• Social Justice vs. Charity: Distinguish between donating to a legal defense fund (charity) and advocating for policy changes like body-worn camera mandates or community oversight boards (social justice).
• S.M.A.R.T. Goal: Create a specific goal, such as organizing an educational workshop on civil rights and police accountability for 50 high school students by the end of the semester.
• The Plan: Outline steps (research, outreach, hosting the event) and challenges (scheduling, finding a speaker).

Answer:

Based on the assignment sheet and the handwritten selection, here is a structured guide to help you build your Social Justice Action Plan presentation on Police Brutality:

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1. The Need (Research & Statistics)

• Focus: Gather credible data to show why this is a pressing issue.
• Example Content: Research national or local databases (such as the Mapping Police Violence database or government civil rights reports) to find statistics on racial disparities in police use of force. Use specific percentages and yearly figures rather than general statements.

2. Beliefs

• Focus: Explain your personal motivation.
• Example Content: Share the core values that led you to choose this topic, such as a belief in equal protection under the law, systemic accountability, and the right of all community members to feel safe.

3. Social Justice vs. Charity

• Focus: Address the root cause of the issue rather than just providing temporary relief.
• Example Content:
• Charity approach (Short-term): Raising money to pay for legal defense fees for individual victims.
• Social Justice approach (Systemic change): Advocating for policy reforms, such as mandatory independent investigations of use-of-force incidents or implementing community-led oversight boards.

4. The Goal (S.M.A.R.T.)

• Focus: Create a goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• Example Goal: "To organize and host a 45-minute educational workshop on civil rights and community-police relations for at least 30 students at our school by the end of next month."

5. The Plan & Timeline

• Focus: Map out how you will achieve your goal and identify potential obstacles.
• Example Steps:
• Week 1: Research local policies and contact a guest speaker (e.g., a civil rights advocate or legal expert).
• Week 2: Secure a venue at school and design promotional flyers.
• Week 3: Promote the event and finalize the presentation slides.
• Week 4: Host the workshop and collect feedback forms.
• Expected Challenge: Difficulty securing a guest speaker. Solution: Have a pre-recorded interview or use verified educational videos as a backup.

6. Change Made

• Focus: Describe the immediate impact of your project.
• Example Content: Educating peers on their legal rights during traffic stops, raising awareness through school-wide social media campaigns, or distributing informational pamphlets.

7. Future Application & Success

• Focus: Look ahead and conclude your presentation.
• Example Content: Discuss how you can expand this initiative in the future (e.g., establishing a permanent student coalition for civic engagement) and summarize the overall success of your project.