| INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM
Knowledge gained from the research and dialogue on inequality, discrimination, affirmative action, and reconciliation is used by the Wilkins Center to design courses on discrimination and inequality. Students develop research and methodology skills that assist them in making and analyzing policy from an ethnically inclusive viewpoint.
Graduate courses
Race, Crime, and Public Policy
Research done on crime underpins the course Race, Crime and Public Policy, in which students learn about the complex relationship between race and crime, and the formation and effect of public policy on crime and incarceration.
One cycle of this class was taught jointly by Dr. Samuel L. Myers Jr. and Michael O'Keefe formerly of the McKnight Foundation. It featured a discussion with The City, Inc., a Minneapolis community organization, and former gang members it assisted. They discussed the organization's program to help former gang members establish new lives outside of gangs. At the conclusion of the class, the students submitted a report on crime, gang violence, and economics in Minneapolis/St. Paul to the McKnight Foundation.
Race, Poverty, and Housing Policy
Students also benefit from this area of work through the course, Race Poverty and Housing Policy, in which they meet with key players in the home-buying process. Community organizers, realtors, bankers, appraisers, city officials and other experts discuss their role in housing acquisition to help students understand how the existing system works and affects home ownership disparities. Students then prepare policy papers on key housing issues. Students in a previous cycle of this class presented their work at the Wilkins Centers first conference on "Race, Poverty, and Housing."
Participatory Policy Analysis
In this class, students gain valuable skills and knowledge by working with community organizations to develop relevant public policy. For each cycle of the course, the Wilkins Center joins with a community based organization to address a pressing need. Students learn how to:
- Study an organization and its mission
- Work with the staff and board
- Understand the organization's needs
- Formulate the most appropriate solution for the partner.
In the most recent course cycle, the Wilkins Center joined with the Minneapolis Urban League to formulate a ten-year strategic plan for the organization. This partnership is an excellent example of the Center's community partnership model and the education students receive working with a partner agency. During the academic year, Wilkins Center staff taught Participatory Policy Analysis to a class of Humphrey Institute graduate students and Urban League staff and board members. The mix of working professionals and graduate students helped each group understand the knowledge and experience the other brought to the table and resulted in a stronger final product. The class studied the Urban League's mission, work, goals, changing constituency and its needs, and anticipated socioeconomic changes in Minneapolis and St. Paul. At the end of the three quarter course, the class wrote a ten-year strategic plan that was adopted by the League's Board of Directors.
Racial Inequality and Public Policy
This course introduces students to the historical evolution of concepts such as "race" and "racism" and their impact on U.S. public policy. Students study various perspectives and approaches dating back to the nineteenth century. They apply the knowledge learned to current research, dialogue, and policy affecting people of color in the United States.
In the most recent course cycle, students combined their readings and lectures with an ongoing research project of the Wilkins Center. The class conducted the test stage of the Center's inventory and analysis of anti-racism projects in the Upper Midwest to the determine the most effective models. Students designed, implemented, and tabulated the results of a mail survey to a sample of anti-racism projects. They also conducted focus groups with another group of projects included in the study. The students then examined the relationship of lack of relationship between the academic research on race and racism and community based efforts to combat racism.
Continuing education
Post Doctoral Program
The post doctoral program in policy methods and analysis helps further develop the skills of young scholars of color. Six junior faculty from around the nation and of diverse ethnic backgrounds work with the Wilkins Center to strengthen their skills while doing research of concern to communities of color. Each fellow combines course work in microeconomic theory and computer methods with individual research on subjects such as American Indian gambling, the dynamics of all-black towns, and minority voting. Each post doctoral scholar is encouraged to meet and share work with state legislators, community activists, and academics.
Executive Leadership Institute
For the past five years, The Wilkins Center has worked with the National Forum of Black Public Administrators to teach one seminar of its annual Executive Leadership Institute. Ten to twelve black public administrators from around the country are selected annually to gain midcareer training in leadership and policy formation. The group meets monthly during four-day session at seven campuses. The Wilkins Center course focuses on local policy making, problem solving, and community building. By participating, the Wilkins Center helps to increase the number of public sector officials of color and ensures they receive high-caliber training to support their career growth. |
