COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION EXPERIENCE INSTRUCTIONS
Text Book: Race, Class, and Gender in the US. 10th edition. By Paula S Rotenberg
The assignment is to participate in a community and/or UNLV sponsored event outside your normal
routine, in order to gain personal exposure to the daily experiences of another race/ethnicity,
gender, social class, or religion. Then prepare a paper comparing or contrasting, your experience
to one of more of the personal account essays in the textbook. Also, provide feedback explaining
your feelings, reactions, and perceptions regarding participating in the event. This paper is to be
3-5 pages in length, in 12’ font, and double-spaced.
Choose a group or activity that represents people who are substantially different from you in terms
of race, cultural background, religious affiliations, sexual orientation, or physical disability.
Suggestions for groups include:
A local ethnic group or cultural center
A local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender alliance
A local women’s crisis center
Las Vegas chapter of the NAACP, Latin Chamber of Commerce or Asian Chamber
A local disabled citizens’ task force
A church affiliated shelter or soup kitchen
A UNLV sponsored event
Preparation of the paper
1. Why did you select the group or activity you did?
2. A description of the activity or activities in which you participated.
3. The information you gleaned from personal interviews or observations
4. How do the topics that we discuss in class relate to this experience?
5. How were you affected by your participation? What did you learn or gain from the
experience?