Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - LBST 401 D100

How to Make Change: Community-Labour Organizing and Action (4)

Class Number: 3280

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Evelyn Encalada Grez
    eencalad@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-3657
    Office Hours: 1 – 2 PM

  • Prerequisites:

    LBST 100 or 101 or permission of instructor.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores community-labour organizing strategies and theories that workers and communities have used to effect social change. Beyond the formal labour movement, we focus on marginalized workers and communities who have turned to one another to amplify their power and fight against diverse forms of injustice. Students develop their organizing and critical analysis skills through popular education and a decolonial praxis. Students with credit for LBST 330 under the title "Action and Change: Community-Labour Organizing 101" may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This upper-level course examines theories of social change and provides students with tools to apply them in practical contexts. Students will learn a range of community-labour organizing models and theories that workers and communities have formulated to effect social change throughout the globe. Moving beyond the formal labour movement, we will turn our focus to marginalized workers and communities who have turned to one another to amplify their power to fight against diverse forms of injustices with limited resources. The seminar is structured as an organizing lab for social change and therefore in person attendance and engagement are crucial to passing the course. Guest speakers, artists, and frontline organizers will form an integral part of the course curriculum to build students’ knowledge base.     

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of the course students will be able to …

- situate themselves in the historical process of change;

- identify various strategies and movements that have accomplished progressive structural change throughout the globe;

- map power structures and social problems in order to develop a plan for action and solutions;

- explain key theories of social change and

- apply various theoretical and educational tools to work with and in community.


 

Grading

  • Personal-Political Journal Reflection 20%
  • Community Engagement Assignment 20%
  • Seminar Engagement 30%
  • Group Project Proposal 10%
  • Group Project Presentation 20%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraws from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The undergraduate course grading system is A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, F, N (N standing indicates student did not complete course requirements). Intervals for the assignment of final letter grades based on course percentage grades are as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Labour Studies Program follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T 20.01) and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10.01‐S10.04). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style.  It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

All materials will be made available electronically via the SFU library and canvas.

REQUIRED READING:

All materials will be made available electronically via the SFU library and canvas

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.