Community-Based Learning: Critically Viewing An Organization

Community Based Learning Critically Viewing An Organization

Describe the organization as it is. Describe how you would change it. Field How do you describe the field in which this organization operates? Be specific. This association operates in both educational and entertainment fields. The association focuses on representing all Arab countries and their cultures, make people in PSU engage in the association through communication, teamwork and sharing as much all Arab countries and their cultures.

I feel as a newly recognized association, these fields are the key fields that accurately promote and represent this association. Philosophy Is there a formal philosophy or set of values and beliefs for this organization? Is it even stated, and does everyone agree with it? There are set of values that this association stick to, which are: always being respectful towards other people, the countries and their cultures, make people comfortable by giving them the chance to explore these countries, and even more, become a part of this association either becoming one of the leaders in the upcoming years, handling the events or even performing in those events. I think we could do more by reaching out to as much people as the association can, engage outsiders, not only the PSU environment, in the events that takes place and be part of the performances. This being said, this would really help us, the association, accomplish the aim we set, and also result in creating a strong community.

Attributes What are the major attributes, characteristics and qualities of this organization – related to leadership? The major attributes of this association are the ability to educate, entertain, communicate and engage others. The characteristics would be spreading the cultures while also defining it, make people engage but even more, experience it. Moreover, PSU students, faculty and outsiders are always welcome to share their ideas and thoughts. I believe the association have a great built-up attributes & characteristics that makes everyone comfortable volunteering or even relating to it, which always can be improved in the future, thus improve greater results. One more thing to add on, is that the budget increases every year (each Fall term), which will help us take more ideas and thoughts into consideration, and also hold bigger events or more averaged events but with different topics discussed.

Organization as a Leader and/or Follower How do you define this org. as a leader and has this changed over time in this particular field? To be clear, this organization consists of 7 leaders, 3 from which are also the co-Founders of this association, and then there are the 4 of us, who became also leaders this year. One of the requirements to become a leader in the next years is to be a PSU student, so you can know who to target, what happens in the campus, organize those events in PSU and also would be able to attend the leader meetings between classes, during the break. Although the seven of us leads this association and are mostly the ones who make a decision, yet it’s open to all people and communities. Everyone is free to express their opinions, share their idea and thoughts, through the meetings that the leaders arrange with the students, faculty and outsiders. I feel the way our leadership works/ takes place, is the best way right now. I also believe that we, the leaders, can act taking in consideration the restricted policies given by our “student organization advisors” and the limited budgets and places we have for our events. So we’d rather work the way we do, rather than breaking or manipulating these policies. Drivers What are the most important internal and external influences on this organization? Some of the Internal Drivers are : [Many Arab students here wants to represent their countries, so we are offering them the opportunity] & [People also get to experience how the association works]. Some of the External Drivers are : [Give all PSUs students and faculty the chance to explore the cultures] & [These events creates a community] & [Give the clearer picture about us rather than people hear from media]. One of the drivers that I believe would change the way our event is structured and the opportunities given is the possibility of raising money. The events we hold in this interval of time are free from all people, even people who don’t study here in PSU. Now with the reputation we have, and hopefilly in the near future, we might put a cost on the tickets to purchase them, which at the same time it would be affordable for everyone to purchase. This being said, it will give us the chance to polarize famous people to become part of our event and collaborate with us as for the performances. This will result people to join the community and help us represent all Arab countries/cultures in a better way.

Paper For Above instruction

The Arab Student Association (ASA) at Portland State University embodies a community-oriented organization aimed at cultural representation and engagement. As a newly recognized student organization, ASA seeks to promote Arab culture and foster intercultural understanding among students, faculty, and the broader community. This paper critically examines ASA's current operational aspects, leadership structure, field of activity, and potential avenues for growth and enhancement.

Organization Overview

Currently, ASA functions within the educational and entertainment sectors, primarily focused on cultural presentation. Its core activities involve organizing events that showcase Arab traditions, arts, and cuisine, intending to educate and entertain, while sparking curiosity and engagement across diverse audiences. The organization’s mission emphasizes respect, inclusivity, community-building, and cultural exploration. Its values underscore respectful interaction, cultural appreciation, and active participation, with an open invitation to PSU students, faculty, and external visitors to partake in and volunteer for events.

Leadership and Attributes

The leadership team comprises seven individuals, including three co-founders and four additional leaders, all of whom are PSU students. Leadership is participative, with decisions often made collectively through regular meetings and open forums. The organization promotes shared responsibilities, assigning roles dynamically based on availability and interest, fostering a collaborative environment that develops leadership skills and broadens experiential learning. Attributes central to ASA include educational outreach, entertainment, communication, and engagement—aiming to create a welcoming environment where cultural exchange flourishes.

Field of Operation

ASA operates at the intersection of cultural education and social entertainment—both vital in fostering intercultural dialogue. Its focus on Arab culture serves to broaden understanding and dispel stereotypes, while its events foster community cohesion and cross-cultural appreciation. The organization’s field is characterized by dynamic interactions, participatory activities, and outreach efforts that aim to integrate Arab cultural expressions into campus life and beyond.

External and Internal Influences

Internal drivers include the aspirations of Arab students to represent their heritage, the organization’s commitment to providing experiential learning opportunities, and fostering leadership skills. External influences encompass the broader societal interest in multiculturalism, the university community’s support for diverse cultural expression, potential partnerships, and increased visibility through social media platforms like Instagram Live and event recordings. Future financial sustainability may be supported by ticket sales, which would enable larger-scale performances with notable figures, thus amplifying the organization’s impact.

Challenges and Opportunities

While ASA’s structure and activities are currently effective, there is room for strategic growth. Enhancing outreach to include more external audiences, increasing funding through ticket sales, and expanding collaborations with other cultural organizations could significantly broaden its influence. Additionally, emphasizing inclusive leadership and community participation can deepen engagement and sustainability.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Arab Student Association is a vibrant, community-centered organization that plays a vital role in promoting Arab culture at PSU. By embracing strategic growth avenues—such as increased funding, broader outreach, and enhanced collaboration—it can further foster intercultural dialogue and community development. Its leadership model promotes shared responsibility, and its field of operation effectively combines education and entertainment to achieve its mission of cultural celebration and community building.

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