SW 524 Community Organization

Presents community organizing as a well-established social work method for promoting social change and improving community life through community and institutional reform. Topics for class will include an overview of the history of community organizing, models of community change (locality development, social planning and social action), methods of social change (advocacy, mobilizing, organizing, coalition building, and partnership), examples of community-based organization, leadership development, and measuring the benefit to communities. Discussion also includes understanding the role of power and culture that exists within neighborhoods and communities.