Critical Action & Social Advocacy (CASA, formerly known as Pitzer in Ontario) is a justice-oriented, interdisciplinary, community engagement and cultural immersion program focused on community-based research. With theoretical foundations in the social sciences and a strong emphasis on experiential education, the program engages theories, strategies and research praxis tools for social change and community-building. These efforts are informed by long-standing relationships with community organizations, city agencies, and non-profits in order to identify and address pressing community issues. The CASA Pitzer academic program engages students, staff, faculty and community partners in collaborative projects and community-based participatory research on regional equity and justice pertaining to issues of incarceration, immigration, education, environment, labor, art, culture and health.
Current Projects. In-depth and longitudinal community partnerships and projects include community gardening, health and food justice education and advocacy (Huerta del Valle and Salud Mental), labor organizing (Warehouse Workers Resource Center), immigrant justice and youth organizing (Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Coalition), critical mentoring and education (Youth Mentoring Action Network), support for local arts and artists (Arts Area), and criminal justice advocacy and transitional housing (Starting Over, Inc. and All of Us or None).
CASA Pitzer. All classes and many of the internships are held at CASA Pitzer, our storefront community hub that houses many of our partner organizations, hosts many community events and trainings, and is equipped as a community-based smart classroom. CASA is located six miles from the Pitzer campus at 200 S. Euclid, Suite B. Transportation is provided.
Requirements. Students must take the two core CASA courses simultaneously: ONT 101 PZ -Critical Community Studies and ONT 105 PZ -Research Methods for Community Change . As part of these classes, we require a 125-hour internship to be completed over the course of the semester along with an associated 20-25-page research paper, among other assignments. Due to the intensive internships, fieldtrips and writing components of this program, students earn three credits for these two courses. These two courses must be taken together and the program is limited to a cohort of 13 students. Students may elect to take a companion CASA class such as ONT 101, Healing Arts and Social Change or ONT 170, Radical Research and Social Partnerships. We ask that students minimize additional extracurricular activities or taking an overload of courses during the semester so as to facilitate the immersive aspects of the internship and the academic demands of the program. We provide opportunities for Spanish immersion but knowledge of Spanish is not a requirement of most internships. First years are not allowed to take the program, but we encourage sophomores, juniors, and seniors to enroll. There is no application process. Enrollment is by permission only, so you must meet with CASA staff before pre-registration, utilizing the PERM registration tool. Please feel free to contact Faculty Director Tessa Hicks Peterson for details.
Major Credit. CASA Program core courses count toward majors in Sociology, Environmental Analysis, Organizational Studies, American Studies, and International/Intercultural Studies. Please discuss your decision to take the CASA Program with both CASA staff and your major advisor before enrolling.
Educational Objectives. CASA Program core courses fulfill the Intercultural Understanding-Domestic educational objective as well as the Social Justice Theory and Social Responsibility Praxis educational objectives.
Launching Pad/Landing Pad. The CASA Program is a fantastic way to prepare for, or return from, study abroad. Taking the program before studying abroad gives students solid grounding in ethics, critical inquiry, and methods that facilitates directed independent study projects. Returning students bring skills gained during the semester away and apply them to local issues, easing back into Pitzer life in a non-traditional, experiential setting. Students who do both CASA and Study Abroad programs usually have a solid base of knowledge and research to draw on, making them well positioned to write a Local/Global senior thesis, which takes a multi-sited approach to a topic of interest.
