Course Description
Asian American Studies: Filipina/x/o American Experiences or “PEP” (Period 1) is a course taught by teachers of Pin@y Educational Partnership (PEP), in collaboration with SFSU’s Step to College* program. In this class, students will learn about Filipina/o/x and Filipina/o/x American history, identity, and culture and how it relates to the broader community. 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.
- Why is it important to learn about the experiences of Filipina/o/x Americans and its relationship to BIPOC communities?
- Why is history important to contributing positive change in our community and the world?
- How does my ethnic identity help me better understand who I am and the world around me?
*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
This vision of this course matters because Ethnic Studies gives context from the past, present, and future of community issues we face today . The purpose of this course is to create a better sense of self. The PEP teachers aim to provide a space that allows students to take what they need regardless of where they may be on their ethnic studies and/or personal journey. We aim to also foster a sense of Kapwa (empathy + interconnectedness with others) within the students and to any/all communities they enter.
Mission
By creating relevant topics and discussing the ties of history with now, our classroom aims to provide a safe space where students can be curious, ask questions, and speak their mind! In PEP, community based learning will be at the forefront of the classroom, as a result students will develop genuine relationships with each other and their teachers. The PEP space will be authentic!
Learning Outcomes
In this class students will:
- Cultivate a community where we are valued and heard.
- Engage with our hxstories as it relates to us and our ability to create a counternarrative to address identity.
- Navigate our positionality in the world through community building and connection to Filipinx American hxstory.
- Centralize on the Filipinx identity/hxstories in relation to BIPOC Communities' identities and counter- narratives.
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.