ECE Lyceum I: Danger of a Single Story: Narrative, Memory, and Identity

The Danger of the Single Story is a yearlong interdisciplinary program that invites Evergreen-Tacoma students to critically examine how the cultural worldviews they hold in their personal, professional, economic, and social lives are shaped by powerful narratives, both seen and unseen. These stories, repeated across media, policy, education, and social structures, shape how we see ourselves and others. This course is exploratory and an entry-level interdisciplinary program for students working in various fields or for those wishing to pursue professional or graduate work in community studies, environmental studies, health, government, law and policy, social justice, restorative practice, management in public interest, cultural and media studies, and early childhood education. In the Spring, we will shift from analysis to action. Students will apply their knowledge to co-create Evergreen-Tacoma’s annual Spring Research and Resource Fair. This community event will showcase student projects that preserve heritage, amplify counter-narratives, honor marginalized voices and the community in dialogue, reflection, and action. Through collaborative projects, ranging from research reports, media installations, and storytelling rooms to educational workshops and community-based research symposiums, students will demonstrate their ability to challenge dominant cultural frameworks and propose more inclusive alternatives that preserve cultural truths. This culminating quarter combines theory and action to generate meaningful community impact. Students will be encouraged to see themselves not just as scholars, but as cultural custodians and producers, change agents, and stewards of more equitable futures.