<aside> 💡 Before traveling, Shoulder-to-Shoulder’s Pre-Travel Case Study will help you learn about the principles of ethical leadership, the mission of the organization you will be working with, and the historical and cultural context of your field site.
We encourage you to write down any questions, thoughts, or ideas that you have as you explore these resources in the journal you will be taking with you on the program.
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<aside> đź’ˇ The colonization of Puerto Rico has had significant impacts on the Puerto Rican diet. The current push for food sovereignty in Puerto Rico is the result of these actions, with more Puerto Ricans taking to farming as a way to regain their ability to feed themselves. Understanding the history of Puerto Rico and the health effects of imported food is essential to understanding the push for food sovereignty in Puerto Rico. Watch the video below. After watching the video, write down any questions you would like to find the answers to while in Puerto Rico.
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<aside> đź’ˇ Puerto Rico is facing several issues that you will be learning about during this experience. First, tax breaks, beautiful views, and cheap real estate are attracting people to Puerto Rico. Some locals say they're getting pushed out by newcomers looking to make money. Watch the videos below to learn about how gentrification is impacting Puerto Rico. After watching the videos, write down any questions you would like to find the answers to while in Puerto Rico.
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<aside> 💡 “Hurricane Maria has reignited a small movement in Puerto Rico aimed at strengthening the local food system so the island can survive and thrive without dependence on the mainland U.S. Before the hurricane struck in September 2017, Puerto Rico imported about 85 percent of its food (NPR).” Watch the video and listen to the podcast below to learn about Puerto Rico’s push for food independence. After watching the video, write down any questions you would like to find the answers to while in Puerto Rico.
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<aside> 💡 “Located about a thousand miles southeast of Florida, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean archipelago with a complex colonial history and political status. As a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico’s 3.2 million residents are U.S. citizens. However, while subject to U.S. federal laws, island-based Puerto Ricans can’t vote in presidential elections and lack voting representation in Congress. As a U.S. territory, it is neither a state nor an independent country (History.com.” Watch the video below to gain an understanding of Puerto Rico’s status. After watching the video, write down any questions you would like to find the answers to while in Puerto Rico.
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<aside> 💡 Our programs put you Shoulder-to-Shoulder with leaders working to address challenges in their own communities as a way to inspire you to return to your own "backyard" and see that global issues are local issues too. Our “learning service” model is grounded in the humble mindset of learning experientially today so that we can lead ethically tomorrow. Read the article "From Service Learning to Learning Service" to learn more about our approach to service at Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder. Discuss or reflect in your journal on what it means to show up “as humble foreign visitors who are looking to learn from local people to understand context, culture, and history.”
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