Alt-Activism seeks to expand the notion of academic career "alternatives" beyond the binary of professoriate/private sector. Rather than imagining alt-ac as a form of advanced vocational training, what if we turn our scholarly research and interests towards renewed civic, community and social justice engagement? Alt-Activism will bring a series of local and regional activists to campus in order to
foster dialogue within the Duke and Durham community about social justice issues (especially those pertaining to education, policing, and prisons); promote a commitment to social justice; offer students a venue for learning effective organizing tools and methods; and strengthen relations between Durham and Duke. We will bring four area activists to campus in the 2015/16 year for a series of interactive workshops designed to educate Duke community members about local social justice issues and to give them the tools, skills, and contacts to contribute to these projects in their academic and professional lives. Co-Founders:
Jess Issacharoff
Shannan Lee Hayes
Bennett Carpenter
Support Provided By:
Franklin Humanities Institute/Humanities Futures Initiative, Graduate Program in Literature and Global Cultural Studies, Marxism & Society, AAAS, Duke Service Learning, The Graduate School
Professional Development Grant, and the Career Center
