SOC 198 students spearhead Earth Day clean up

It is the "green generation."  Well, at least according to organizers of Earth Day 2009. 

April 22 inspired both discussion and action on environmental issues among the newest generation to "Go Green" and take an active interest in bettering the Earth.  Members of  the Wilkes community took it upon themselves to be apart of this new generation. 

One unique Wilkes class sought to actively connect students with real issues--many of them environmental--facing the local community. Through the Sociology 198 course, and general interest in environmental issues, students got involved in the very first Earth Day clean up for three local parks and a two mile stretch of land surrounding campus.
 

After a school trip to Philadelphia to clean up a park in North Philadelphia, Danielle Kern, Americorps Vista and Service Learning Advisor was approached by students on the trip who asked, "Why don't we do something like this in Wilkes-Barre?"
 

"Great question. It inspired me to get things moving and see if we could host a park clean up for our city," said Kern.
 

After Kern was offered the opportunity to teach a course with Dean of Students Mark Allen, the pair took on the Sociology 198 course and added their own community service spin.

"I teach SOC 198 (Service and Leadership) which is a service learning course exploring the role of leadership in addressing social issues," said Allen.
 

For the course, students were required to be involved in either the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) planning and trip or the Earth Day campus and community clean up.
"The rest of the class collaborated on a project to help clean parks and neighborhoods in Wilkes-Barre.  Doing this as part of the Earth Day clean up made sense," said Allen.
 

Last week's Earth Day clean up incorporated several aspects of the nationwide Earth Day activities. "The cleanup [focused on] Charles Street Park, Francis Slocum Park and two blocks around campus," said Kern.
 

Students in the SOC 198 course, as well as community members, coordinated a clean up that integrated the already processed Earth Day clean up planned by the city.
"[We] were able to make contact with the city, and we spoke with the assistant to the Mayor who informed us about an Earth Day clean up in April, so we decided to have the park cleanup on that day.  We are very excited to host a project like this and also partner with the city," stated Kern.
 

The students who did not attend the ASB trip formed a board to organize the event.  There are seven students on the board from Service and Leadership, and all seven had a very important hand in planning the event.
 

[quote coming from Allison Perini]
 

While the focus of the SOC 198 course aimed to connect Wilkes students with local community issues, there was an academic requirement that integrated the community even more.
 

According to Allen's syllabus, students were also required to create a children's book related to the issue.
 

"They are required to read their book to elementary school students in the Wilkes-Barre School District.  The academic exercise is to demonstrate the use of narrative as powerful tool to promote learning. After the books are read, most are donated to the schools' libraries for children to enjoy," explained Allen.