Capstone Project: Designing a Community Intervention

Introduction: From Learning to Action

This capstone project is your opportunity to apply everything you've learned. You'll design a real-world intervention that addresses issues facing South Asian men while demonstrating understanding of:

• Historical and theoretical frameworks
• Contemporary challenges
• Cultural competence
• Community engagement
• Practical implementation

Part 1: Capstone Project Options

Choose ONE of the following:

Option A: Workshop or Program SeriesDesign a multi-session workshop series addressing a specific issue (mental health, masculinity, identity, etc.)

Option B: Support Group ModelCreate a detailed model for an ongoing peer support or therapy group for South Asian men

Option C: Awareness CampaignDesign a public awareness campaign (social media, community events, media) addressing stereotypes, mental health, or other issues

Option D: Research Study ProposalDevelop a complete community-engaged research proposal on a topic relevant to South Asian men

Option E: Organizational InitiativeDesign a new program or initiative for an existing organization (community center, religious institution, advocacy group)

Part 2: Capstone Components

Regardless of option chosen, your project must include:

1. Context and Need Assessment (750-1000 words)

Address:

• What issue are you addressing?
• Which South Asian male population specifically?
• What evidence shows this need exists?
• What's currently being done (or not)?
• Why is your intervention needed?
• Connect to course concepts (colonial trauma, stereotypes, mental health, etc.)

Include:

• Relevant statistics and research
• Community voices/perspectives
• Structural analysis (not just individual problem)
• Historical context

2. Theoretical Framework (500-750 words)

Explain:

• What theories/concepts from the course inform your intervention?
• How does South Asian Male Studies framework shape your approach?
• What assumptions underlie your design?
• How do you address cultural specificity?

Draw From:

• Module 1: Theoretical foundations
• Module 2: Historical trauma understanding
• Module 3: Contemporary manifestations
• Module 4: Resistance and agency models
• Module 5: Healing and liberation frameworks

3. Intervention Design (1500-2000 words)

Provide Detailed Description:

For Workshop/Program:

• Session-by-session outline
• Learning objectives for each
• Activities and methods
• Materials needed
• Duration and schedule
• Facilitation approach

For Support Group:

• Group structure and format
• Eligibility and recruitment
• Facilitation model (peer-led, professional, hybrid)
• Topics and themes
• Ground rules and agreements
• Connection to professional resources

For Awareness Campaign:

• Campaign goals and messages
• Target audiences
• Platforms and tactics
• Content examples (sample posts, videos, events)
• Timeline
• How you'll measure reach and impact

For Research Proposal:

• Research questions
• Methods (see Lesson 6.2)
• Sampling and recruitment
• Data collection and analysis
• Community engagement plan
• Dissemination strategy

For Organizational Initiative:

• Program components
• Integration with existing services
• Staffing and roles
• Participant journey
• Sustainability plan

4. Cultural Competence and Community Engagement (750-1000 words)

Demonstrate:

• How intervention is culturally tailored
• Community involvement in design
• Addressing barriers (language, stigma, access, cost)
• Building on community strengths
• Inclusive of diversity within South Asian communities

Address:

• Which specific South Asian group(s)?
• Language considerations
• Religious/cultural sensitivity
• Class and economic factors
• Generational differences
• LGBTQ+ inclusion

5. Implementation Plan (1000-1250 words)

Provide:

Partnerships:

• What organizations/individuals needed?
• How will you establish relationships?
• Roles and responsibilities
• Memoranda of understanding

Resources:

• Budget (estimated costs)
• Space and facilities
• Staff and volunteers
• Materials and supplies
• Technology needs
• Funding sources

Timeline:

• Planning phase
• Pilot/launch
• Implementation
• Evaluation
• Sustainability

Anticipated Challenges:

• What barriers do you expect?
• How will you address them?
• What contingency plans exist?

Risk Management:

• What could go wrong?
• How will you minimize risks?
• Crisis response plans (especially for mental health interventions)

6. Evaluation and Assessment (500-750 words)

Plan for Measuring Success:

Outcomes:

• What changes do you hope to see?
• Short-term (immediately after)
• Medium-term (3-6 months)
• Long-term (1+ years)

Metrics:

• Quantitative measures (numbers of participants, pre/post tests, surveys)
• Qualitative measures (testimonials, focus groups, observations)
• Process measures (attendance, engagement, completion)

Data Collection:

• What tools will you use?
• When and how will you collect data?
• Who will analyze?
• How will you protect privacy?

Using Feedback:

• How will you gather participant feedback?
• How will findings inform improvements?
• Who receives evaluation reports?

7. Sustainability and Future Directions (500-750 words)

Long-Term Vision:

• How does this continue beyond initial implementation?
• What's needed for sustainability?
• How might it scale or expand?
• What other interventions might follow?

Capacity Building:

• How does this build community capacity?
• What skills/resources remain after project?
• How are community members empowered?

Systemic Change:

• How does this contribute to larger structural changes?
• What policy implications exist?
• How does it connect to broader movements?

Part 3: Presentation Format

Written Proposal: 5000-7000 words total covering all components above

Plus Visual Component (Choose ONE):

• PowerPoint/slide deck (10-15 slides) summarizing key points
• Infographic explaining intervention
• Sample materials (workshop handouts, campaign content, etc.)
• Timeline/workflow chart
• Budget breakdown

Part 4: Reflection Component (1000-1500 words)

After completing your capstone, write a reflective essay addressing:

Learning:

• How has this course changed your understanding of South Asian masculinity?
• What concepts were most valuable for your intervention design?
• What surprised or challenged you?

Personal Growth:

• How has this learning affected you personally?
• What have you learned about yourself?
• What will you carry forward?

Application:

• Why did you choose this specific intervention?
• What makes you passionate about this issue?
• What role might you play in implementing something like this?

Future Directions:

• What questions remain for you?
• What additional learning do you need?
• How will you continue this work?

Commitment:

• What specific actions will you take after this course?
• How will you contribute to South Asian male healing and liberation?
• What support do you need?

Part 5: Evaluation Criteria

Your capstone will be assessed on:

Conceptual Understanding (30%):

• Integration of course concepts
• Theoretical sophistication
• Critical analysis
• Historical grounding

Cultural Competence (20%):

• Specificity to population
• Cultural tailoring
• Community engagement
• Addressing barriers

Practical Feasibility (20%):

• Realistic and implementable
• Clear implementation plan
• Resource considerations
• Risk management

Innovation and Creativity (15%):

• Original approach
• Creative problem-solving
• Effective design choices
• Compelling presentation

Evaluation and Sustainability (15%):

• Clear outcomes and metrics
• Thoughtful evaluation plan
• Long-term thinking
• Capacity building

Module 6 Conclusion: Taking It Forward

What You've Accomplished

Over six modules, you've developed comprehensive understanding of South Asian Male Studies:

Module 1: Built theoretical foundations, understanding why this field is needed and its core principles

Module 2: Examined historical mechanisms of colonial trauma and their lasting impacts on masculinity

Module 3: Analyzed contemporary psychological manifestations—mental health crises, stereotypes, survival mechanisms

Module 4: Studied agency and resistance through political organizing, community building, and cultural production

Module 5: Synthesized healing frameworks addressing mental health, economics, representation, and liberatory masculinity

Module 6: Applied learning to create practical interventions through culturally competent, community-engaged approaches

Key Insights Across the Course

1. Complexity Over SimplicitySouth Asian men are neither simply victims nor oppressors. They experience racialized emasculation while sometimes exercising patriarchal power. Both truths must be held simultaneously.

2. History Lives in BodiesColonial and migration traumas aren't just historical—they live in contemporary mental health, family dynamics, and identity struggles through intergenerational transmission.

3. Individual and StructuralPersonal healing is necessary but insufficient. Liberation requires addressing both individual psychology and structural conditions that create distress.

4. Community Is EssentialIndividual success doesn't create collective liberation. Change requires community support, political organizing, and solidarity across difference.

5. Culture Is ResourceCultural practices, values, and traditions can be sources of strength when approached critically, not rigidly.

6. Liberation Is PossibleDespite profound challenges, South Asian men have always resisted, created, and built alternatives. Liberatory futures are being constructed now.

Where to Go From Here

Continue Learning:

• Read books and articles from course resources
• Engage with South Asian studies scholarship
• Follow contemporary creators and organizers
• Stay informed about research and movements

Personal Practice:

• Maintain healing practices (therapy, meditation, journaling)
• Build emotional literacy and expression
• Work on relationship patterns
• Challenge own conditioning

Community Engagement:

• Join or start men's groups
• Participate in cultural organizations
• Support South Asian advocacy groups
• Build solidarity with other movements

Professional Application:

• Bring concepts to your work (teaching, therapy, organizing)
• Advocate for culturally competent approaches
• Conduct research with communities
• Create interventions and programs

Political Action:

• Organize for policy changes
• Support progressive candidates
• Challenge discrimination
• Build coalitions for justice

Cultural Production:

• Create art, writing, media
• Tell your stories
• Challenge stereotypes
• Contribute to new narratives

Final Reflection

This course provided frameworks and knowledge. What you do with them is up to you.

South Asian Male Studies isn't just academic field—it's a call to action. It asks:

• How will you heal yourself and support others' healing?
• How will you challenge systems that harm South Asian men and others?
• How will you build liberatory alternatives?
• How will you contribute to collective transformation?

The work of liberation is ongoing. Your participation matters.

You are not alone in this work.

Across the diaspora and in South Asia, people are:

• Healing from trauma
• Building community
• Challenging patriarchy and racism
• Creating art and culture
• Organizing for justice
• Imagining and building liberatory futures

Join them. Your voice, your work, your healing contributes to the larger project of collective liberation.