Policy advocacy is the process of negotiating, mediating, and creating dialogue between grassroots and influential actors on public policy issues. One strategy of policy advocacy is the social movement. Social movements are organized efforts of large groups of people or organizations intended to create social change and influence policymakers, powerful industries, and institutions. In this course, students will gain an understanding of the powerful impacts of social movements and the intersection of scientific issues, public policy, corporate influence, and grassroots community efforts within the context of the oil and gas industry, particularly as they relate to the Rocky Mountain West. This course is supported by the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project.

Social entrepreneurship and business ownership—particularly among black and women-owned businesses—can be a crucial way to develop community wealth, for both business owners and the people they employ. By examining current business ecosystems, this course will explore the systemic barriers that hinder black and women-owned businesses’ efforts to ideate, start and sustain a business. We will explore how the concept of social enterprises through partnerships with public-, private-, and social-sector stakeholders can develop a supportive economic environment for black and women-owned businesses.