Honors Collegium M123XP
Philanthropy as Civic Engagement
Enrollment: Instructor Consent. Limited to juniors and seniors. Please complete the course application form through the link provided: https://www.hc123.org/apply. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Course Description: (Same as Community Engagement and Social Change M122XP) Seminar, three hours. Study of history, philosophy, and practice of philanthropy. Practical experience in setting priorities and making philanthropic investments in Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations. Letter grading.
Jennifer Lindholm
Since completing my PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change twenty years ago, I have been affiliated with UCLA as a researcher, teacher, and administrator. My research and writing focus on undergraduate learning and development, leadership, and the cultural and structural dimensions of academic work. My non-academic passions are heavily design, culinary arts, and animal-focused (with me in the photo is Oliver, a now considerably larger Australian Labradoodle.) Currently, I serve as Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education & Director of Honors Programs. If you are interested to learn more about my work, please visit my website: www.jlindholm.net.
Michael Suarez
Michael Suarez is UCLA Honors Programs Assistant Director for Student Development. He has been a teacher, mentor and counselor for over 30 years with a passion for working on equity and diversity issues in education. A Mexi-pino, marathon runner, mom-centenarian-caregiver, yoga and mindfulness teacher and Yale and PhD firstgen survivor. He earned his PhD at the UCLA Graduate School of Education and his BA in Political Science at Yale University. Michael also completed his 200-hour Teacher Training & Certificate program in Yoga & Healing Sciences at Loyola Marymount University. He enjoys teaching students mindfulness exercises that include yoga and meditation to help them reduce stress, create safe spaces, and build community that fosters communication in diverse settings. Michael’s educational philosophy is holistic. It’s about working collaboratively with students, faculty and staff in creating learning environments that validate each student’s academic and personal experiences in support of their success and future goals. Michael is a native Angelino, from Wilmington, CA.
Q & A
What is your home department at UCLA?
JL: Honors Programs
MS: Honors Programs
How long have you been teaching your HC seminar?
JL: 7 years
MS: I have been teaching the HC M123 course for 3 years.
What is your favorite part about teaching this HC seminar?
JL: Working with our terrific students, teaching team, community partners, and teaching team members energizes and inspires me. Teaching this course is always a great privilege and a grand adventure.
MS: My favorite part is working collaboratively with students, and seeing the class go through a transformational learning experience.
What do you find to be the most compelling about the subject matter of this seminar?
JL: The power of giving is tremendous. Working actively to create a future that is more sustainable, equitable, caring, and just is critically important. Even the seemingly smallest acts of generosity, kindness, and compassion that we might be inclined to dismiss as insignificant relative to the sometimes overwhelming challenges we face today can have a powerful impact. Through this course, our goal is to support you in becoming a more informed, engaged, and thoughtful citizen and philanthropist. Thanks to the generosity of philanthropists who believe in your potential to make a positive difference in the world, your work in this course will also impact Los Angeles area nonprofit organizations and the needs they serve.
MS: The universal desire of everyone to make a difference, in caring for, and actively taking part in, helping others and improving the community.
What are the learning objectives for this course?
The primary goal of this class is to facilitate your learning about philanthropy and introduce you to th value of giving and community investments. The course is designed for you to:
- Understand the nature of philanthropy and how it operates in a large urban setting.
- Analyze and debate the roles and responsibilities of nonprofits in Los Angeles that are devoted to furthering: a) arts and culture, b) civil rights and human services, c) environmental sustainability and animal interests, and d) health and wellness.
- Participate in a collaborative philanthropic process: establishing goals, performing due diligence, writing and vetting proposals, engaging in discussions that will persuade, debating merits, and reaching a collective decision.
- Make funding decisions and learn about giving wisely with a clearly articulated mission and set of goals.