Students will improve their ability to discuss and present on current events. (A writing component is available as an add-on component of this class.) Students will understand global issues, social inequities, and topics important to work globally. 

A native of San Francisco, Stephanie is a former diplomat and ****university professor**** with a boutique tutoring company which revolves around inspiration. She has taught high school, college and grad school students international affairs, global studies, social justice, a conscious version of history for nine years. She has mentored high school, college and grad students for over eight years, nurturing youth to discover their potential. Her background is varied, committed to creating lasting change to life challenges at the grassroots and systematic level in topics such as education, poverty reduction, human rights, the environment. Wanting to make a direct change in the lives of individuals, she has taught writing, Spanish, social sciences up to the Master’s level for over nine years. In addition to her work as a U.S. diplomat and activist across Europe, Africa and Latin America, she has created and innovated regional and international youth projects designed to help youth succeed in social engagement and activism, education and economic development (creating jobs). She has successfully learned five languages, is fluent in three and has lived in Latin America and Spain for four years. She specializes in mentoring youth to approach projects intuitively and methodologically to gain self-confidence in challenges. She has led trainings and trained youth in delivering media interviews and doing quick soundbytes of what are the main topics. She applies this when working with youth on public speaking. 

This class is based on my work mentoring and teaching graduate/college students and in my private coaching practice. Everyone is in need of inspiration and a recharge. She is a 200-hour yoga and meditation certified instructor and has studied holistic healing and stress-reduction for eleven years. She is an avid practitioner and promoter of self-care, wellness and mindfulness and teaches teens and adults how to prioritize and advocate for their needs to be heard so they can fully show up and participate in a co-creative way. She has taught yoga and meditation in post-conflict zones as a way to help build self-care practices in those most affected. She also has coached colleagues and clients with anxiety and PTSD for over nine years. 

Reviews:
Super easy communicator
Stephanie is such a great soul and an amazing college counselor to have. She is super easy to communicate with and very patient. She genuinely wants to see me grow into my full potential and nothing is better than having someone believe in you. Thank you Stephanie!
- Sara K.

College Counseling & Essay Help
Stephanie is a great tutor and coach. She helped my daughter with UC essays and her personal statement. She has very creative ideas and is a pleasure to work with. My daughter loves working with her. Very pleased with her and would certainly recommend. AAA+
- Chris K.

From darkness to inspired.
With less than a week before the deadline, Stephanie was instrumental in helping our son write an incredible essay for his college application. Not only did he get in to the college of his dreams, the essay also helped him feel very strongly about his choices. Before meeting with Stephanie, he was really stuck and had no idea how to begin or what subject to write about. Stephanie helped him discover what sets him apart and to express something he truly believes in – and also gave him the inspiration to work hard at achieving his goal. We couldn’t thank her enough!
- Anna-Pia S.

Great College Essay Tutor
Stephanie has been an amazing help to my son with his college essays. She is a very patient, intelligent, and passionate tutor and has a calming presence that never fails to get him out of his panic mode when he gets "frozen" by all the work he has to do. She really knows the ins and outs of what schools are looking for in the college essay, is able to spark his thought process, and channel his writing into something way beyond just good structure and grammar. Would definitely recommend her to anyone looking for help with writing.
- RENE A.
Solid writing and college counseling coach

“Stephanie clicked very well with my daughter and really helped her find her own unique voice so that she could tell better unique stories in her essays. Her background and broad experience seems to give her a worldly power in crafting good ideas. Very pleased with her and would certainly recommend.”
Thalia K.

“Stephanie’s professional experience in international development translated fluidly to the masters level classroom. She complimented the rigorous academic curriculum with allegory and assignments focused on skills building. I was personally inspired by her diverse professional background and ability to break outside the walls of academia. Communication with Stephanie was reliable and her expectations from us were openly discussed. I’d recommend anyone looking to gain skills in international development and foreign policy to take her class.”  
- John L.

Breakthrough teacher!
Stephanie H. really understood the issues I was facing as a student struggling to interface with the subject. She helped me enjoy learning again and to up the bar on what I can achieve.
- Nathan C.

Energetic and Insightful Tutor
Stephanie helped my high school aged son prepare an application for admittance into a selective school program. She spent time to truly understand what the program was about so she could best assist my son. Stephanie also has a knack for figuring out a student's interest and then help them structure their answers accordingly. My son was so intrigued after their first session, that for the next two hours he continued to discuss with me their conversation. I highly recommend Stephanie for tutoring young adults!
- Joseph S.

Homework Offered
If you would like to watch the films before class, it will give us more time to discuss. 

Films are 5-25 minutes long. Please take some notes on what were the main points and what surprised or interested you.

Week One: 

Day One: The most pressing problems of the world.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2W1g7iyNPQ
Day Two:We will look at foreign aid and watch this six-minute video and discuss it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxhj4Jg3dzU

Week Two: 
Day One: We will look at foreign aid and the origins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvA_cOeeOI&t=2s
Day Two: We will look at global aid and charity and watch this short video by Professor Jason Hickel in class and discuss it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfnojfvwY5Q

Week Three: 
Day One: We will look at a case study of Haiti, a country exploited and plundered by colonization and some of the modern problems there as a result - Haiti. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrys-m5A5A8

Day Two: We will look at the case study of Angola and some of the problems there - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMnJ24XG5Gc

Week Four: 
Day One: Greta Thunberg the Swedish Activist
We will watch a few short clips and then discuss in class.  https://weta.org/watch/shows/greta-thunberg-year-change-world/athabasca-glacier-a2f6nt

Day Two: Environmentalism  
We will discuss the film Lowland Kids about rising water levels and a family needing to move off an island off of Louisiana. https://vimeo.com/416177700

1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Informal Assessment
Grades Offered

We will look at carefully selected and balanced youtube video that educate youth on the challenges of foreign aid, challenges that remain in a neo-colonial and post-colonial era, environmental sources that are well regarded and understanding of indigenous wisdom. Youth are welcome to offer additional resources in the class!