Challenging Community Organizing

Disruption, yet community reconstitution: subverting the privatization of Latin American plazas

“…The argument here is that the state's withdrawal has left a series of responsibilities afloat, some of which have been taken up by citizens who out of necessity find ways of filling the socio-economic gaps. These new and heightened social obligations are theorized by some as potential avenues in the organic formation of new urban communities (Fisher and Shragge 2000). Community policing, gardening, development and planning are some examples of localized forms of organizing, which express new community formations under circumstances of devolution of state responsibilities (Staeheli 2003).…”

Sustainable Social Work: An Environmental Justice Framework for Social Work Education

“…More recently, global health professionals, including social workers, have utilized a variety of innovative approaches to empower historically oppressed populations to address environmental issues. Social workers can utilize a variety of empowering research and engagement approaches including but not limited to Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) (Minkler & Wallerstein, 2011;Wallerstein & Duran, 2008), Participatory Action Research (PAR) (Whyte, 1991), community organizing, and consensus building (Fisher & Kling, 1993;Fisher & Shragge, 2000). Social work researchers and practitioners alike can perform this role using long-established social work skills such as engaging, assessing, and intervening within at-risk communities.…”

Integrating Social Work Into Undergraduate Education Through a Community Action and Social Change Multidisciplinary Minor

“…Despite the promise of social work and social justice, many scholars have argued that social work has lost its focus on social justice, using the rhetoric of change but not preparing students for action (Fisher & Shragge, 2000;Reisch, 2011;Specht & Courtney, 1994). In addition, Fisher and Corciullo (2011) argued that the field has largely "marginalized" community organizing, choosing instead to "worship at the church of individual repair" (p. 358, citing Specht & Courtney, 1994, p. 12).…”