Course Description
Asian American Studies: Filipina/x/o American Experiences or “PEP” (Period 2) is a course taught by teachers of Pin@y Educational Partnership (PEP), in collaboration with San Francisco State University Step to College* program. In this class, students will learn about systems of oppression and empowerment through the lens of precolonial, colonial, and post colonial Philippines and the modern day diaspora. We’ll be exploring the following questions:
*Students earn 3 units of college credit per semester (6 units in total = two college courses). This class fulfills the CSU/UC G elective requirement. Paperwork for this will be given to students during the first two weeks of school. The paperwork must be completed for college credit to apply.
- What is Filipina/o/x and Filipina/o/x American history?
- Why is it important to learn about our histories?
- How can we use this knowledge to make meaningful change in our communities?
*Students earn 3 units of college credit per semester (6 units in total = two college courses). This class fulfills the CSU/UC G elective requirement. Paperwork for this will be given to students during the first two weeks of school. The paperwork must be completed for college credit to apply.
Vision
In PEP, we aim to foster lasting relationships among students and teachers through the supportive community formed in the classroom. Our purpose is to build an empowered, loving community where everyone is grounded in their sense of self by exploring, connecting with our histories, and engaging with one another as human beings first. By deepening their understanding of history and the impact of oppressive systems on their present experiences, we envision students collaboratively turning their dreams into reality.
Mission
Our mission is to create a safe and welcoming environment where students can learn aim to uplift the value of pakikipagkapwa, or “shared identity, struggle, and survival” (Daus-Magbual et al., 2019, p. 8), to build fellowship and empathy among students and teachers. By teaching relevant lessons on Filipina/o/x history, we help students connect with historical experiences of oppression and transform this understanding into action. We hope that students will gain a deeper insight into their interpersonal relationships – both within and beyond the classroom - and be encouraged to challenge and critically question their perspectives on the world.
Learning Outcomes
In this class students will:
- Foster a space where everyone feels loved and valued.
- Form meaningful, lifelong connections with each other and their teachers.
- Identify systems of oppression and narratives of resistance to guide efforts toward collective liberation.
- Critically analyze Filipina/o/x American history and its connections to their own realities.
- Develop a deeper understanding of their personal, local, and global identities.
MALONG Mentorship Program
The malong is an indigenous Filipino fabric used for multiple purposes. From gathering food to providing security and comfort for children, the malong symbolizes community. At the heart of the community is the individual. To have a strong community you need healthy individuals: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Though each person and site is unique, the Malong "wrap-around" health and wellness project focuses on 3 "threads":
Based on the three threads mentioned above, PEP MALONG stands for:
Mentoring Exchange
Academic Counseling & Guidance
Leadership Training
Opportunity Seeking
Needs Assessing/Assessment
Goal Achieving/Achievement
Teachers and students will be assigned mentor/mentee pairings. Each mentor is a direct resource for information about grades, classwork, and other necessary support. Mentors and mentees will have monthly check-ins to track students’ wellness regarding school and community. As a note of transparency, all teachers are mandated reporters.
- Mental health & wellness of all community members (directors, coordinators, teachers, students, families, communities)
- Academic counseling and guidance (students and teachers)
- Community building (inside/outside classroom)
Based on the three threads mentioned above, PEP MALONG stands for:
Mentoring Exchange
Academic Counseling & Guidance
Leadership Training
Opportunity Seeking
Needs Assessing/Assessment
Goal Achieving/Achievement
Teachers and students will be assigned mentor/mentee pairings. Each mentor is a direct resource for information about grades, classwork, and other necessary support. Mentors and mentees will have monthly check-ins to track students’ wellness regarding school and community. As a note of transparency, all teachers are mandated reporters.