This coming January, Homeless Family Center (HFC) will be the first residential facility in Florida to offer the Clemente Course in the Humanities. The Course, which was recently awarded the 2014 National Humanities Medal, will be taught by Indian River State College professors on the HFC Campus free of charge to adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The Clemente Course in the Humanities is a free accredited college course for adults marginalized by economic hardship and adverse circumstances. Using the Socratic Method, the Clemente Course provides a rigorous education in literature, philosophy, American history, art history, and critical thinking and writing. The experience of Clemente students around the world has demonstrated that through the dialectics of learning in a vibrant and supportive classroom, participants develop crucial tools to set in motion personal and societal change, and are empowered to participate more fully in civic life.
“Homeless Family Center is honored to partner with The Clemente Course and Indian River State College to offer a program of excellence to the families we serve and the community at large. Clemente truly makes a positive difference in the lives of people. And, as they say, humanities makes us more aware of our values as people and it’s never too late to change the course of your life,” said Mary Ellen Maguire, Executive Director of Homeless Family Center.
Homeless Family Center (HFC) provides opportunities for homeless families to end homelessness by achieving self-sufficiency through education, living wages and permanent housing. For more information, call (772) 567-5537 or go to www.homelessfamilycenter.com.
Photo: (left to right) Mary Ellen Maguire, Homeless Family Center; Katie Nall, Indian River State College; Lela Hilton, Clemente Course in the Humanities.