Houston Northwest Community College is offering a free Social Justice 12 course Feb. 4 to March 25.
The accredited grade 12 course will be offered in a workshop forum and will be open for interested members of the public to audit or drop-in.
It will run twice a week at NWCC on Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Taught by Pat Cox, the course covers topics including the Declaration of Human Rights, human rights issues internationally and in Canada, non-government organizations, globalization, corporate issues of social inequality, eco-justice, war, child soldiers, equality, tolerance and poverty.
"It's a very, very broad subject and [the course is] trying to narrow it down to where it fits in our community," said Diane Batley, NWCC coordinator for OARH.
OARH, Organizing Against Racism and Hate, is an Embrace BC government program promoting multiculturalism, recognizing diversity in communities, and working to eliminate racism and hate in B.C.
NWCC has a contract with OARH which involves community education around racism and hate issues, which are topics covered in Social Justice 12, Batley said.
The material for Social Justice 12 is provided by School District 54, and Cox is working as high school teacher as well as volunteering to do the course a second time for the public.
"The idea behind this course is for personal development more then anything else," said Cox.
"It allows the students to have a look at [social justice], not only in their own local place, but also have that wider lens that looks at the world as a whole.
"Putting their own issues into context often helps them feel less isolated, and it also makes them feel like they're part of something bigger."
"It's also for people who are not a part of any minority group, about 'what can I do in the world?' 'How can I make a difference?' It's that piece too.
"It's a lot of what I believe in, so I really get excited about it," she said.
For more information or to register for taking Social Justice 12 for credits, contact NWCC at 250-845-7266.