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Welcome to our e-newsletter
Minds in Motion
This month's newsletter gets into the back-to-school spirit with stories about the fall semester, alumni classes, and a Final Word from a student who's in college for the very first time.
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Fall Semester Explores Theme of Belonging
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Debora Otero and Anello Arce enjoy a community dinner before class.
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Flannery O'Connor. Brown v. Board of Education. The Inuit Creation Myth. Toni Morrison. What do these authors and texts have in common? They all appear on the Free Minds fall semester syllabus, and they all give us a chance to question what it means to belong.
This fall, the Free Minds curriculum centers around ideas of belonging: Who belongs? Who doesn't? How do we decide? Why does it matter?
From the exiled Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest to the centuries-old debate over who should be part of this "nation of immigrants," we see that having or wanting a sense of belonging is central to the human experience. Students will explore this idea through reading creation myths, immigrant stories, classic works of literature, and personal essays.
They'll also write about it, through their formal essay and at the end of the semester, when the creative writing unit will focus on the craft of writing as students pen their own creation myths, investigating their personal stories through questions of culture and community.
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| Fall Events for Free Minds Alums
Alumni, free your minds and reconnect with classmates this fall over topics as varied as Shakespeare and slow-cooked barbecue. All events are free and, unless otherwise noted, will take place at the Community Engagement Center (1009 E. 11th St. #216). The full schedule is available on our blog.
Come join the conversation!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Master class, 6:30 p.m.
Tackling The Tempest with Clayton Stromberger, Shakespeare at Winedale Outreach Coordinator. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Play, 7:30 p.m. The Tempest, performed by the Actors from the London Stage. UT's B. Iden Payne Theatre (23rd and San Jacinto). THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 Master class, 6:30 p.m. "The Battle for God," Dr. David Lauderback, ACC History Professor. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 Walking tour, 6:30 p.m. "The Racial Geography of UT," Dr. Ted Gordon, Dept. Chair of African and African Diaspora Studies at UT. Littlefield House (24th and Guadalupe).THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17 Master class, 6:30 p.m. "Food for Thought", Elizabeth Engelhardt, UT Professor of American Studies.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Master class, 6:30 p.m. "Transition to College Success," Julie Cuellar-Reck, ACC academic advisor. |
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Special Thanks
We owe a big thanks to the team at Foundation Communities for giving us space to hold classes at their beautiful new M Station facilities. We are especially grateful for the support of Julian Huerta, Tera Bock, Jenny Cohodes, and Tiffany Eagan. If you are interested in volunteering with or supporting Free Minds, you can find more information on our website. |
  
Minds in Motion
Archive
August 2011 New students, new faculty, and a new childcare program. July 2011 Grant news, a record applicant pool, and a tour de UT. Plus, Vivé gives the Final Word. June 2011 Big funding news, a last call for applications, and a recent graduate's plans. |
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Free Minds Alumni Share Words of Wisdom
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L-R: Emily Whitehurst '11, Grace Adams '09, Kellee Coleman '08
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Less than a week after students turned in their first analytical writing assignment, they welcomed three Free Minds alumni to the classroom: Grace Adams '09, Kellee Coleman '08, and Emily Whitehurst '11. The alums dished out words of encouragement to the group seated around the table.
"Don't be scared, just be open," said Kellee, who is finishing up an associate's degree at Austin Community College (ACC). As a single parent going back to school, Kellee had to train herself to read and write all over again. "How'd you get over that?" asked a young student, a mother of three who works with the Austin Police Department. "I'm still getting over that," Kellee said. "I'm a work in progress."
Emily, now a sophomore at St. Edward's University, agreed. The reading and writing was difficult at first, but Free Minds opened her up to her own capabilities. "I didn't realize until I came into this room that my mind does matter," she said.
The alumni advised students to make the most of their academic resources, especially each other. "You gain people in your corner who are going to support you," said Grace, who is also taking classes at ACC this semester. "You have no idea what you're in for... and it's going to be great! I'm so excited for everyone!"
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The Final Word
Lisa Pous, Free Minds '12: "I am not limiting myself any longer."  I am a proud mother of three teenagers and a domestic violence survivor who is learning to thrive. I have no formal education past the eighth grade, having passed a GED exam before high school. With the help of local domestic violence resources I have been able to change my life around one tiny step at a time to live more fully in the now and see a better future for myself and my children as I show them how to bravely navigate through barriers. We are worthy of all the good in life.
My feelings over my unconventional education vary. I used to feel that my GED was a source of embarrassment, something I had failed at instead of the stepping stone I view it as today. I found my education outside of the classroom, reading anything I could get my hands while testing out a new interest in politics, world causes, and other current affairs, always hungering for more.
Free Minds jumped out at me through a flier displayed at my domestic violence resource center. It spoke immediately to all of my fears and needs, promising to connect me to a small community of other nervous inspired learners, guiding me through the step-by-step process of essay-building in a safe environment.
The more I do that I enjoy, the more amazing opportunities become available that I am ready for and that suit my needs perfectly. I am now trained and certified with Safe Place, a leading resource in domestic violence, and with the National Domestic Violence Hotlines as an advocate for other victims and survivors. Given the chance for my world to open up past domestic violence education, my goals and ideas may change completely. I am not limiting myself any longer. |
A program of the UT Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, in partnership with the UT Humanities Institute, Austin Community College, and Foundation Communities, Free Minds offers a two-semester college course in the humanities for Central Texas adults who want to fulfill their intellectual potential and begin a new chapter in their lives.
Free Minds Project
Community Engagement Center
1009 East 11th Street, #218
Austin TX 78702
Project Director: Vivé Griffith Project Assistant/AmeriCorps VISTA: Hana Silverstein
Ph: 512-232-6093 F: 512-236-1729
www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/freeminds |
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