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DC Co-op Community
The Opportunities of Place
The work and independent living experience of Antioch students in the Co-Op Community of Washington, DC is supplemented with a four-credit seminar course that includes distinct elements: Learning About Power in the Nation's Capital, Professional Development, Becoming a Change Agent, and Life Skills.
The Role of Power in the Nation's Capital
This course is designed to introduce students to, and enhance their knowledge of power relationships and policy making in the American political system. The primary purpose of the course is the development of skills for place-based learning. Taking advantage of the fact that Washington, D.C. where three intertwined communities-- a local town without voting representation, the nation's capitol and an international center – exist simultaneously, this course explores how public and private sectors gain and use power to accomplish their goals.
Professional Development
DC area Antioch alums will coordinate with the co-op faculty on campus to design professional development goals for the fall Co-op term. Often student-specific sessions will be possible as well as sessions for the full group of Co-op students. The Center for Partnered Learning will also let students know of the wealth of professional development opportunities offered in the area. There is a full, year-round calendar of events, conferences and seminars at the area’s many universities, as well as a low-cost training program offered by the Institute for Policy Studies. The program offers classes at least once a week on community organizing, non-profit management, fundraising, database design, facilitating, public speaking, and more. We will explore the possibility of a partnership with this program for ongoing student development, in addition to providing tailored skills-building trainings with the coordinators and other alum in the area.
Life Skills
Another offering in the four-credit seminar series addresses critical life skills such as managing finances, balancing work, study and play, and other issues identified by students as materials they would like to have covered.
Becoming a Change Agent
The core of the course is a set of sessions that expose the group of students to presentations by local experts and Antioch alums who will present and lead discussions on:
- Developing grassroots organizing skills
- Leadership skills
- Advocacy for change at the local, national and international levels
- When lobbying is not enough: getting involved in elections
Venue
The Washington, DC Center for Partnered Learning including the Co-op Community is located at 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW. This central location near Dupont Circle serves as a central meeting space and is available for students to use for independent career counseling and other activities.
Personnel
The Center for Partnered Learning is coordinated by Karen Mulhauser '65.
Karen has demonstrated a serious commitment to the College. She served on the Alumni Board for many years, four as the President and several additional years on the Board of Trustees. The Center benefits greatly from the support and commitment of a large number of Antioch alums in the area who volunteer for various responsibilities and are coordinated by the Co-directors.
Transportation and housing
Students living in the D.C. metro area have easy access to work and learning opportunities through public transportation. The public transportation system includes a comprehensive network of heavily used bus routes, trains to major cities in the Northeast, and subway lines that provide reliable and affordable commuting options. This system allows students to either work or live in a variety of metropolitan settings in MD, VA, and the District.
In addition, with three major airports, an Amtrak regional center, and the usual bus lines, DC is conveniently accessible to Dayton and much of the country. From each of the airports, discount airline flights are available from Southwest Airlines, Ted, Song, Spirit, Airtran, America West, and Independence Air (as well as all major carriers). This opens doorways for students. It also makes it easier to coordinate between the Co-op Community and college-based faculty. Whether it is for meetings or visiting professors, there is frequent and cost-effective transportation to and from Yellow Springs, OH.
Employment Sectors
The Washington area can of course offer co-op job placements that are not directly related to policy and advocacy. Students who select jobs in other sectors, such as the rich selection of museums, or in the local community, will also benefit from the seminars and other activities that are provided, but this aspect of Washington provides unique opportunities for Antioch’s change agents.
- Government
- Technology
- Non-Profit Advocacy
- International Presence
- Arts
- Education
- Youth Development and Youth Organizing
- Communications and Media
Learn more about all DC Community Employment Sectors.