SW 523 Interventions: Social Action for Community Change

3 credits

This advanced intervention course focuses on organizing for socially just changes within communities. Practice elements necessary for creating social action for community change are included in the course. In addition, this course will provide students with knowledge and skills in using empowerment, problem-solving and trauma-informed approaches for developing strategies to create changes and promote human rights in communities. The format will include a combination of lectures, activities and presentations to increase opportunities for student learning. In this course, we will discuss the history of community organizing and examine key social movements that used this approach to improve the lives of politically and economically disenfranchised groups. Students will demonstrate the strategies and skills needed for direct action organizing work, including building campaigns, planning actions, engaging media, conducting policy research and influencing elected officials.