Motivation to Teach Social Action:
I am developing a course on Local Governance and Civic Engagement for undergraduate students. In addition to providing an overview of local governance and politics, the course seeks to encourage civic engagement and policy advocacy. I think this course development program would enable me to finalize and structure this course that will be offered in Fall 2027.
Course Description:
Local governments are our primary point of contact with public authority - shaping schools, transportation, policing, housing, and the everyday services that we use. This course examines key aspects of local governance and how citizens can engage with the state and local governments. The course analyzes the institutional aspects of local governance, the advantages and limitations of different participation mechanisms, and the roles played by public agencies, community organizations, and residents in collaborative governance. An applied component requires students to attend and participate in selected community forums or local government activities such as school board meetings, community boards, or participatory budgeting and develop a proposal for civic change. [1]
Taught By:
Rahul Pathak
Associate Professor
Marxe School of Public and International Affairs
Baruch College, City University of New York
Read profile here.