Each year, SASAH’s 4th Year Capstone Seminar centers on a specific theme or topic of contemporary significance. Building on students' Experiential Learning and Internship engagements throughout SASAH, the Seminar introduces students to a leading professional from a particular field that complements aspects of their expansive education within the first three years of the program. The Visiting Professor is invited to teach with the support of the SASAH Director and to access resources that enable the development of an ambitious and innovative course offering resulting in a singular opportunity for 4th year students each given year.
This year's Visiting Instructor was Steve Cordes, Director of Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU).
This course structure provided a comprehensive exploration of youth homelessness while creating practical engagement and community involvement. Each component was designed to engage students in practical activities and experiences that challenged their assumptions about youth experiencing homelessness while also empowering students to contribute meaningfully to solutions in their local context.
Read a Western News feature about this Capstone course
The class carried out a number of site visits, including to the newly established
Joan's Place while it was still undergoing construction.
Course Objectives for this semester focused on understanding the complexities of youth homelessness in London, ON:
- raise awareness of local policies and resources aimed at addressing youth homelessness;
- develop practical skills for working with youth experiencing homelessness;
- engage with community organizations and stakeholders;
- propose actionable solutions to improve the situation of homeless youth.
SASAH students contributed regular reflections about course experiences, and their culminating projects were collaborative video interviews with individuals who had experienced homelessness. These videos and corresponding student reflections contain sensitive material that can’t be shared online.
Each fourth-year student works throughout the year on an Independent Research/Creative Project, planned and carried out in consultation with the SASAH Director, Professor Aara Suksi.
Students shared video presentations of their work before submitting the final project at the end of the term. A selection of those projects are included here.
Hear more about the course from Fourth-year student Asha Saha, and see her complete IRP, "The Period Poetry Project," below!