Higher Education

Class is the last great taboo:

Talking class on campus

We believe that higher education is an important and vibrant arena in which to focus program efforts.  History has demonstrated that working in higher education with students, faculty, and staff has a prolonged “ripple effect” on individuals, institutions, and the culture.  Higher education is an environment that is presently receptive to exploring issues of class.

Traditionally, higher education has provided an access channel for upward mobility in the U.S.  However, many recent publications have decried the shrinking of that access channel.  At the same time, prestigious colleges and universities in the United States have become concerned that the students they are educating come disproportionately from upper-income families. The top colleges draw 75% of their students from the wealthiest quarter of families in America, and only 3% of students from the poorest quarter (Marx 2004).  Lower-income white students, in particular, are underrepresented at highly selective colleges and universities with only 1% of white graduates coming from families with incomes below $22,000 and two parents who did not attend college (Bowen & Bok 1998). 

"Class Action brought such clarity and passion to the issues that people were able to make both intellectual and emotional discoveries about themselves and the world around them. We are really looking forward to working more with Class Action as we explore the economic equity issues of our times and in our day-to-day lives here at Dartmouth."

                      ~ Associate Director for Training and Educational Programs

Dartmouth College

Apprehension is growing at elite colleges and universities that they are “reproducing social advantage instead of serving as an engine of mobility” (Leonhardt 2004).  Even among colleges who have recognized this problem, the focus has been on admissions and resource needs, rather than on the culture shock experienced by first-generation college students, and issues of retention.  Class Action offers training for staff and faculty to sensitize them to their class biases, and consultation to campuses on the need to change policies and practices. We also facilitate support groups for first-generation college students.

Class Action is currently participating in a three-year campus-wide initiative on class issues at Dartmouth College.  Inspired by this work, we are designing our own comprehensive, multi-year campus initiative with several stages and tiers.  We are in discussions to develop these initiatives in partnership with both elite colleges and community colleges with the goal of creating a national model for higher education.  By helping these colleges make changes at the institutional level, our work will have systemic and sustained impact on thousands of students, and the faculty, staff, and trustees who are entrusted with educating them.   

Class Action also creates and distributes educational resoures to assist educators in broaching the subject of class.

Speakers and Facilitators

Class differences frequently appear on college campuses, yet there are few venues to discuss their impact on students, staff, and faculty. Class Action speakers and facilitators introduce class and classism through lively, thought-provoking lectures and workshops designed to open dialogue and discussion.

Dr. Felice Yeskel

One of Class Action’s engaging speakers is Executive Director Dr. Felice Yeskel. Dr. Yeskel’s speaking style incorporates group participation through open dialogue, encourages discussion, critical analysis and reflection. Yeskel uses her personal story, anecdotes, and economic insight to reveal the insidious nature of class and classism. She has toured the country speaking to more than 50,000 people in 25 states. She has presented hundreds of workshops about economic inequality and about healing the divisions among Americans of different class backgrounds, races, genders, and sexual orientations. She is the guest editor of the spring 2008 journal Equity & Excellence in Education focused on class and education.

Yeskel is a co-founder of United for a Fair Economy and co-author of Economic Apartheid in America, New Press, 2005.

“Dr. Yeskel was an engaging, dynamic speaker… Throughout her talk, it was clear her heart and mind were in her voice and words. She spoke of truths and personal experience…”
~Mark Fitzgerald

Student, University of Massachusetts

Rhonda Soto

Rhonda Soto leads Class Action’s Race/Class Intersections Program. Ms. Soto knows how important and challenging it is to build awareness around issues of race and class. Her experiences as a low-income person of color and her long-standing interest in social justice led her to become a vocal advocate, trainer, and consultant around issues of diversity. A former middle school teacher, she brings experience working with students, faculty, and committees, including facilitating workshops for teachers who serve a diverse population of students. A warm and dynamic speaker, Ms. Soto engages audiences with workshops and lectures combining her personal experiences as a bi-racial woman born and raised in Harlem, with compelling statistical research tailored to each audience. Having lived the experiences of race and class intersections, she brings much-appreciated perspective to presentations, dialogues and media interviews.

Rhonda and Felice are two of Class Action’s most popular trainers. Additional associates are available, including men and women representing a diversity of class backgrounds, races, and sexual orientations.

Class Action works with a broad range of colleges and universities around the country. These range from community colleges to elite private colleges. We also work with high schools to boarding schools. Contact Class Action to schedule speakers or workshops. E-mail info@classism.org or call (413) 585-9709, ext. 201.

Educational resources

Class Action resources are available from the Class Action Store. They include:

• Straight Talk on Class and Classism: a brochure that breaks down myths about class and classism.
  

• Economic Apartheid in America: This updated edition of the widely touted Economic Apartheid in America looks at the causes and manifestations of wealth disparities in the United States.

• Talking Across the Class Divide: A manual for cross-class dialogue and learning. A great tool for opening coversation between people of different backgrounds on the topic of class.

• Enough an award-winning short film on class. Available on DVD, and with a curriculum to encourage dialogue and learning.