The Russian Language and Area Studies Department J-term course proposal is officially under consideration. Fingers crossed — будем держать кулачки!
We’re so grateful for all the input and support we’ve received from Theresa Heath, Director of the Smith Center for Global Engagement, and Alyssa Melby, Director of Svoboda Center for Civic Engagement.
In the meantime, we can announce the tentative course title and description:
Civic Engagement in Riga, Latvia: History, Culture, and Politics at a European Crossroads
In this course, students will spend one month in the scenic, historic, and exciting capital of Latvia, Riga. They will divide their time between civic engagement projects with local NGOs on one hand, and on the other, lectures, discussions and excursions that will address the pressing issues of immigration, displacement, diaspora, and language politics in Latvia and Eastern Europe more generally.
The course centers community engagement: students will choose to collaborate with a local community partner based on their personal and academic interests. Local partners include organizations for youth community building, LGBTQ+ support, exiled writers and journalists, and environmental sustainability.